AUBURN - On the day that marked the one-year anniversary of his nephew's funeral, Michael Hall Sr. pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Thursday to second-degree manslaughter for shooting and killing Ricky Huffman, 33, in a hunting accident last fall.

As Hall, 50, of 1306 Salt Road, Moravia, recounted the events that happened at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2007, the victim's mother, Jeanett Littlehall, who is also Hall's sister, struggled to maintain her composure.

“Me and my nephew went out to hunt deer and we separated,” Hall said, as the sound of a neighborhood church bell filled the courtroom. “I seen some movement on my left side, and without realizing what I was doing, I accidentally pulled up and shot. I accidentally shot him ... If I knew it was my nephew standing next to the tree, I would never have shot.”

Hall went on to admit that he never identified his target before firing and that he ran to call 911 after he realized what happened.

In exchange for the plea, which satisfied felony counts of criminally negligent homicide, second-degree perjury and offering to file a false instrument, in addition to two misdemeanor counts of prohibitive use of a firearm, Hall was promised a sentence of six months in the Cayuga County Jail with five years of probation. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 15 years in prison.

While Littlehall said that she appreciated the work that Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann put into her son's case, she said she believed the sentence was not strong enough for a Hall, who she said knew how to safely use guns after spending several years in the military in addition to being an avid hunter.

“He gets six months for killing my son, that's just sad,” Littlehall said. “I can't bring my son back. On the day of his funeral, there was a line of 500 people walking by his casket.”

Budelmann said that while the sentence was light, he had to keep in mind that it was a hunting accident.

“The police did a thorough investigation, and it would have been difficult for a jury to know what Hall saw,” Budelmann said. “It was a hunting accident, and he violated the basic tenants of hunting; You don't pull the trigger until you identify your target and then beyond, in case you miss. He said he heard something and did a snap shot. He just pulled up his gun and fired. Unfortunately for everyone involved, he shot his nephew. Its a tragic situation and it has torn apart this family.”

Littlehall said she and several of her family members planned to address Cayuga County Judge Thomas Leone when Hall is sentenced on Jan. 15.

“I want the judge to know who my son was,” Littlehall said as she choked back tears. “He was a loving, caring person who would give you the lint in his pockets if it was the last thing he had and the shirt off his back.”

Also in court:

* A local teenager pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony burglary after he was accused of breaking into an Owasco building through a window.

Adam Delaney, 19, of 1426 Old Seneca Turnpike Road, Skaneateles, is also charged with two counts of petit larceny and one count of criminal mischief, all misdemeanors.

* A local man faces up to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

Kenneth Scott, 44, of 161 Genesee St., Auburn, also admitted that he had previously violated an order of protection in 2007, which made the current charge a felony.

The plea satisfied two pending criminal contempt charges for violating an order or protection.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net