Topsham teen who shot brother on probation

WEST BATH – A Topsham teenager who pleaded guilty to shooting his younger brother was sentenced Thursday to four years of probation.

Jason Steinle, 15, will be required to go through two residential treatment programs but will not have to spend any more time in state custody, District Court Judge Michael Westcott ruled.

Steinle had pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a firearm and theft of a firearm in connection with the Feb. 14 shooting of his younger brother, Kyle, at the family’s home.

The shooting left Kyle critically wounded and in a coma. He spent weeks in the hospital before being released, and is now blind.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution argued the shooting was intentional, but the defense maintained it was accidental and that there was no history of violence or animosity between the brothers. The judge agreed, saying Jason had no motive for shooting Kyle.

Steinle was arrested six days after the shooting. Authorities said the boy admitted to stealing a .22-caliber handgun from his grandfather’s Connecticut home after picking the lock to where it was stored.

The grandfather verified the gun was missing, and said he had not given Steinle permission to have the weapon.

After his arrest, the teen was confined to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland before being transferred to KidsPeace, a diagnostic treatment program in Ellsworth.