A Fairbanks man who shot a woman in the face with what he said he thought was a replica lighter was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison with two suspended.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://bit.ly/1vOf2qT) reports Edward Ginnis in June pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, a felony.
Ginnis on March 17, 2013, shot Teil Diaz between the eyes with a .22-caliber handgun. He told investigators it was an accident.
Diaz suffered serious, lifelong injuries.
Fairbanks District Attorney Michael says the charge was determined by culpable mental status.
He says if the state could prove Ginnis picked up the gun that looked like a lighter and aimed it at Diaz, he would have faced attempted murder charges.
Friends and family of Diaz said a two-year sentence was too short.
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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com
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