FC Stepmother Will Not Face Trial

The stepmother of a six-year-old Ford City boy shot in Ford City will not face trail.

Crista Ann McNeely was charged with two felony counts of knowingly endangering the welfare of children by violating a duty of care, protection or support - namely, by knowingly leaving unsecured and unsupervised guns and ammunition within the home in violation of Section 4304(a) of the PA Crimes Code -but one of those charges was withdrawn Thursday afternoon.

After a motion was filed, McNeely will participate in an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for six months and be required to perform 25 hours of community service.

According to State law, the pre-trial intervention program allows rehabilitation of the accused with no or limited prior record.

Last August, McNeely’s nine-year-old son was playing with his father’s handgun, teasing the family dog with the laser. It was then that he picked up a 9mm Ruger pistol and accidentally shot his six-year-old half-brother.

Police searched the home that day and found additional handguns, rifles, and shotguns in the house, including five long guns and over 8,600 rounds of ammunition on the bedroom floor at the base of the nine-year-old’s bed.

The boy’s father, Christopher, was also arrested in September and charged with multiple crimes – including the felony endangering welfare charges, felony possession of a firearm by a minor and two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person.

After pleading guilty to one of the misdemeanor charges in May, all other charges were withdrawn. Sentencing is scheduled for later this month.

Both Christopher and Crista were out of the Armstrong County Jail in September after posting bail.