A Maine stepdad whose four-year-old son picked up an unsecured handgun and fatally shot himself was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday.
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son → pick → prison
Robert McCoy, 37, was in his Lewiston apartment when his stepson, Jasper Smith, found a loaded handgun in a bag before taking it to a room and shooting himself in May of last year.
McCoy pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child on August 3, 2026.
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McCoy → find → August
He had originally faced up to 30 years on the manslaughter charge.
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He → face → charge
He will serve eight years in prison and an additional six years of probation, Justice Jennifer Archer decided at a sentencing hearing Friday morning.
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Archer → serve → hearing
During probation, McCoy is prohibited from interacting with children under the age of six.
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McCoy → prohibit → six
He cannot possess firearms or ammunition and can be subject to random searches.
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He → possess → searches
According to the Sun Journal, Archer said Smith found his stepdad's loaded 9mm Luger handgun in a zipped bag at the family's apartment.
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Smith → accord → apartment
After leaving to his bedroom, Smith had accidentally shot himself in the head.
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Smith → leave → head
Jasper Smith, 4, found his stepdad's loaded 9mm Luger handgun in a zipped bag at the family's apartment before accidentally shooting himself
The Sun Journal reported that several family members testified they called the Department of Health and Human Services Child and Family Services to raise concerns about Smith's wellbeing before his death
Robert McCoy, 37, pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child on August 3, 2026
McCoy found Smith wounded in the bedroom before carrying the boy to his mother, Mikayla Smith, and calling 911.
Police officials reported that several family members were present in the home when first responders arrived to assist the child.
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responders → find → child
Smith's older brother was sleeping at the time of the incident.
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brother → sleep → incident
The child was taken to Central Maine Medical Center where he died.
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he → take → Center
After an investigation led by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and the Lewiston Police Department, McCoy was arrested in June 2025.
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McCoy → lead → June
The Sun Journal reported that several family members testified they called the Department of Health and Human Services Child and Family Services to raise concerns about Smith's wellbeing before his death.
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they → report → death
Anthony Smith, the young boy's uncle, wrote to the court that his death could have been prevented and that he was a 'fun-loving child.'
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he → write → court
The relatives said they had requested Smith be removed from the home multiple times due to the filthy conditions and lack of care from his parents.
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Smith → say → parents
Family members had allegedly called the department 17 times and prompted seven investigations into Smith's parents but there were no concrete findings.
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members → call → parents
Anthony Smith, the young boy's uncle, wrote the court that his death could have been prevented and that he was a 'fun-loving child'
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he → write → court
Smith's relatives said they had requested him to be removed from the home multiple times due to the filthy conditions and lack of care from his parents
According to the outlet, Andrew Northam, Smith's biological father, testified that he attempted to reach out and get back into his son's life.
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he → say → life
'I lost my son before I ever got a chance to know him,' Northam said in court.
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Northam → lose → court
Justin Leary, McCoy's attorney, described the accident as 'criminally negligent' but said his client did practice gun safety often.
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client → describe → safety
'He did love and care for his children.
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He → love → children
He is crushed and haunted by his death,' Leary told the court.
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Leary → crush → court
I failed you all.
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I → fail → you
I deeply loved my son.
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I → love → son
I love you Jasper as I do my own children,' McCoy said.
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McCoy → love → children
The Daily Mail has reached out to Justin Leary, McCoy's attorney, for comments on his behalf.
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Mail → reach → behalf
The Daily Mail has also contacted the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for comments or additional details.
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Mail → contact → comments
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