Judge considers youthful offender status in hunting death

Joe Drescher took the stand in a Henry County courtroom Friday morning, carrying a framed photo of his son, Joey.

“This is my son that I raised,” he said. “I want a face to be with the name.”

The clean-cut, smiling boy was Joey Drescher of Tumbleton. More than a year ago on the morning of Jan. 3, 15-year-old Joey went hunting with his friend, 18-year-old Christopher Michael Newman. Not long after sunrise, Joey was shot and killed by Newman, who claims the incident was a tragic accident that occurred when he fired at movement in the thick bushes.

Newman is charged with manslaughter.

Friday, Circuit Judge Larry Anderson conducted a hearing to determine if Newman would be granted youthful offender status, or if he would be tried as an adult. Anyone under the age of 21 may apply for youthful offender status, which limits the range of punishment if convicted and keeps subsequent court proceedings closed to the public and the offenses off the person’s permanent record.

Through tears, Joey’s parents passionately argued that their son’s death occurred due to the reckless actions of an adult, not the youthful mistake of a boy.

“My life is a living hell right now without my son. I’m all alone now,” said Drescher. He and Joey’s mother are no longer together. “When I grow old, I won’t have anyone to take care of me.”

But Newman’s attorney, Sam Clenney, said Newman is a perfect candidate for youthful offender status because he has no prior criminal record and has not lived independently as an adult at any point in his life. The law also states a judge may not consider the nature of the offense when deciding youthful offender status cases.

Anderson did not rule at the end of the hearing, saying he would take the case under advisement and deliver a ruling later. He did, however, address Joey’s mother and father directly during the hearing.

Anderson told the two that, like them, he had only one son.

“If that were to happen, I would want somebody to pay,” Anderson said. “Having said that, what do you think Joey would want?”

“He would want him not to be granted youthful offender,” Joe Drescher said.

“Are you speaking for yourself because of the pain you feel, or for a son that, as you said, was loved by everyone?,” Anderson asked.

“Joey would want him to be held accountable,” said Joey’s mother, Katrina Tucker. “Joey would expect us to protect him. Joey would expect us to have given him a voice.”

“And you have given him a voice,” Anderson said. “And you have given him a face. I wish I could make your pain go away.

Immediately after the incident last year, Joe Drescher said he did not want to see Newman prosecuted. Friday, Drescher testified he later changed his mind after speaking further to investigators. Newman was a pallbearer at Joey’s funeral. Since then, relations between the two families, who live just a few houses apart in Tumbleton, have been strained.