Newark man gets 6 years in prison for accidental fatal shooting in January

Michaela Sumner
Newark Advocate
Kenneth Hall

NEWARK - A Newark man was sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges in connection to a man's January shooting death.

Kenneth S. Hall, 24, of Newark, pleaded guilty to one count each reckless homicide and tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies, on Monday morning.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 25, Newark police and fire were called to an apartment on Weston Road for the report of a man down. Upon arrival, police found 20-year-old Peyton J. Anderson, of Columbus, with a single gunshot wound to his chest.

Although medics attended to Anderson, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Licking Memorial Hospital. Hall and co-defendant, Danielle M. Stewart, 45, of Newark, were arrested in the hours following the shooting.

More:Newark pair indicted on charges in connection to Columbus man's death

Stewart was charged with one count of obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony, after police said Stewart lied during the investigation.

According to court records, police said Hall admitted to shooting Anderson in the chest with a .22-caliber pistol while they were sitting on the couch in Stewart's apartment.

"The defendant indicated the gun had jammed and in the process of clearing the weapon, he pulled the trigger and shot the victim," court records stated, adding Hall admitted to disposing of the weapon in a wooded area near the intersection of Cherry Valley and Reddington Roads.

Danielle Stewart

Court records indicate Stewart initially told police she was sleeping, didn't hear a gunshot, and had no idea what happened to Anderson. Police said in a subsequent interview, Stewart admitted she lied to protect Hall.

Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Marcelain sentenced Hall to six years in prison and granted him 129 days of credit for time served. Upon release from prison, Hall will be required to complete three years of post-release control.

Licking County court records indicate Stewart's case is set for a plea and in lieu of conviction hearing next week.