Washington state man sentenced for shooting a man he thought was a sex offender

7-13-2011 Washington:

SPOKANE, Wash. — A Washington state man who shot another man in the head because the shooter mistakenly thought the victim was a sex offender has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison on assault and gun convictions.

Robert Startin cried in Spokane County Superior Court as he apologized for shooting 26-year-old Shane Reilly at a drinking party in March in Spokane Valley.

The prosecutor said someone joked that Reilly was a sex offender. Startin had a relative who was molested. He got a gun and shot Reilly in the head.

The Spokesman-Review reports Reilly was paralyzed below the neck but has recovered some movement in his limbs. He’s still in the hospital.

The 27-year-old Startin was sentenced Tuesday. ..Source.. by Washington Post

Registered Baytown sex offender shot three times

1-6-2008 Texas

A semi-automatic handgun was used to shoot a 27-year-old registered Baytown sex offender early in the morning of Dec. 28. The shooting occurred at Tompkins Green Apartments near Massey Tompkins Road.

The victim was identified by authorities as Ricky Germaine Mixon.

Nearby residents, hearing multiple gunshots, ran outside to see Mixon lying in the parking lot of the apartment complex and called 911 to report the incident.

Baytown police officers arrived and Mixon was quickly LifeFlighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital and treated for gunshot wounds to his leg, chest and hand.

He was coherent and able to speak to police officers immediately after the incident.

Mixon registered as a sex offender July 6, 2006 for the sexual assault of a 41-year-old female and is classified as high risk on public record. He updated his record Oct. 4, reporting his address as 302 Grantham Road, Baytown.

Officers reported that the chances of his survival were promising.

Kelso man says he's victim of vigilante shooting

9-25-2007 Washington:

KELSO, Wash. (AP) - A Kelso man accused of making obscene phone calls to children says he was attacked by someone he thinks found his home because of TV coverage.

Barry North says he was hit on the head and shot in the calf Saturday night when he went to get his mail. He says he passed out from the pain and spent the night in his driveway.

A Cowlitz County sheriff's deputy, Charlie Rosenzweig, says North was shot at close range with a small-caliber gun, but he didn't report it until Sunday afternoon. North says he was afraid he would be shot again, but the pain forced him to call 911.

The 43-year-old appeared in court last week in Kitsap County on a charge of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

North says he is innocent and that the calls were made by someone who stole his cell phone. ..more.. by AP