SEATTLE -- A Washington state police
officer accused of leaving a loaded handgun in the family van where his young
son could grab it and fatally shoot his 7-year-old sister has pleaded not
guilty to a second-degree manslaughter charge.
Marysville police officer Derek Carlile spoke just five words during his arraignment in Snohomish County Superior Court. The two most important: not guilty.
Marysville police officer Derek Carlile spoke just five words during his arraignment in Snohomish County Superior Court. The two most important: not guilty.
Carlile is charged with
second-degree manslaughter for the March 10 death of Jenna Carlile.
According to charging documents,
Derek Carlile had left the gun, with the safety off, unsecured in a center
console of the family's minivan. Carlile and his wife had gotten out of the van
while making a stop in Stanwood, but left their four children inside.
Carlile's 3-year-old son allegedly
picked up the gun and shot Jenna. She died hours later at Harborview Medical
Center in Seattle.
The charging documents indicated
Carlile knew the 3-year-old had a fascination with guns. The charges also state
that the holster the gun was in had an ankle strap, which Carlile did not use.
The van also had a locking compartment where the gun could have been placed.
"We're saying this was an
accident - not that there wasn't some carelessness, certainly there was or this
would not have taken place - but it doesn't match up with the gross negligence
for the state to prove a crime in this case," said David Allen, defense
attorney.
"The case has been reviewed by a number of senior deputies, it was carefully investigated, and the facts as we know them are in the affidavit of probable cause," said Joan Cavagnaro, chief criminal deputy prosecutor.
"The case has been reviewed by a number of senior deputies, it was carefully investigated, and the facts as we know them are in the affidavit of probable cause," said Joan Cavagnaro, chief criminal deputy prosecutor.
Carlile’s wife is not being charged.
Prosecutors said she did not own the gun or bring it to the van, and that she
alerted Carlile when he put the gun in the open container, assuming he would
move it someplace safe.
Carlile's lawyers have said that he
takes full responsibility for his daughter's death but disputes that he
committed a crime.
Trial was set for Aug. 24. Carlile
remains on paid administrative leave. If convicted, he could face two years and
three months in prison.
KING 5's Allen Schauffler, Liza
Javier and the Associated Press contributed to this report.