John Jacob Spangenberg, 24, of Kalamazoo, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter last month and was sentenced Monday to one year in jail for accidentally shooting and killing Wayland High School graduate McKenna Dutkiewicz, 21, last June
Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Gary Giguere said Spangenberg will be given credit for 194 days time served. The sentence came at the request of the family and was agreed to by attorneys for both sides.
McKenna’s mother, Cathy Dutkiewicz of Dorr, insisted that forgiving was a huge part of the agreement and she believes it’s what McKenna would have wanted.
Spangenberg was accused of fooling around with a gun he didn’t know was loaded before it discharged, striking Dutkiewicz in her boyfriend’s apartment in Kalamazoo June 1.
Spangenberg also was ordered to complete 500 hours of community service, “focused on speaking to youth and others as to the importance of mature, responsible and safe gun ownership.”
He also was ordered to spend four years of probation.
Judge Giguere said he agreed with the family’s belief and praised them for their grace and being able to publicly speak to the court and Spangenberg. Cathy Dutkiewicz, as well as her husband Mike Dutkiewicz and McKenna’s brother, Caleb Dutkiewicz, spoke in court.
Spangenberg expressed his regrets and thanked the Dutkiewicz family for their graciousness and Christian behavior.
