Harris Pleads Guilty to Shooting Man in Illegal Deer Hunting Incident

A Hart County man pleaded guilty in Hart County Superior Court Monday to the accidental shooting of another man while hunting illegally.

In December 2013, authorities say Henry Allen Harris was hunting illegally on property off Elrod Ferry Road when he shot another hunter, Bren Stone, and left him for dead.

Stone was able to call for help and was taken to AnMed Medical Center in Anderson where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the arm and abdomen.

Harris was later arrested and charged with a laundry list of crimes, including felony aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, misdemeanor obstruction, felony misuse of a firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, misdemeanor hunting without flourescent orange vest, misdemeanor hunting without a license, misdemeanor hunting without a big game license.  A Hart County Grand Jury later indicted Harris on those charges.

Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White said after conferring with Harris’ attorney, it was clear Harris did not know he had actually shot a person.

“Speaking with his attorney as we approached trial, we realized that we would have a very difficult time proving aggravated assault as aggravated assault requires proof that the person either attempts to cause bodily injury to the person of another, or commits an act that places another in apprehension of receiving a violent injury,” White said.

White said in this case, Mr. Stone was not aware that the rifle slipped until he was shot so he was not placed in apprehension prior to being injured.

“All evidence we had suggested that Mr. Henry Harris did not intentionally shoot Mr. Stone. It was an accident as he believed him (Stone) to be a deer,” White concluded.

White said as a result, the aggravated assault charge was changed and Harris was sentenced.

“On agreement, we reduced the count to reckless conduct,” White said. “He (Harris) pleaded guilty to all other counts in the indictment. He received 20 years with the first ten to serve in prison followed by 10 on probation, as well as restitution to Mr. Stone for all medical bills not covered by insurance.  And that Mr. Harris be banished from the Northern Circuit while on probation.”

After sentencing White said Harris turned to Bren Stone and apologized.

“He told Mr. Stone that it was an accident. He said he never would have intentionally done that. He said he didn’t know he was shooting at a person, that he thought he (Stone) was deer and he was sorry. He then asked for Mr. Stone’s forgiveness and Mr. Stone said he had already forgiven him,” White said.

White said Stone has fully recovered from his injuries.

“His injuries required multiple surgeries, but he has now fully recovered,” White said.