CROWN POINT — A man pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal recklessness to resolve charges in the fatal shooting of his mother's boyfriend in Gary.
Wesley D. Trout, 20, of Gary, admitted in a plea agreement filed Thursday he fired a gun at Sherrod Carter, 39, of Gary, during an altercation May 22 outside Sam's Market, 2101 Virginia St., according to court records.
Carter was dating Trout's mother, and the couple was “having problems” at the time, records state.
Though Trout admitted he fired the gun, he does not admit to murdering Carter, who was found barely conscious in the 2100 block of Caroline Street, about one block from the supermarket. He later died at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary.
Trout admitted in the plea agreement the shooting was reckless and “created a substantial risk of bodily injury” to anyone in the parking lot, “where people were likely to gather,” records state.
Criminal recklessness is a level 5 felony, which is punishable by 1 to 6 years incarceration. There is no agreement between parties as to what sentence will be imposed at a March 23 sentencing hearing.
Trout was scheduled to appear at trial Feb. 20 on charges of murder, aggravated battery, attempted battery, criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm, as well as two misdemeanor offenses.
The trial was canceled. The state is expected to dismiss all charges, besides the criminal recklessness offense, at Trout's sentencing hearing.