Man who shot snorkeler in the head sentenced to prison

REEDSPORT, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon man who shot a snorkeler in the head after mistaking him for a large, water-dwelling rodent was sentenced this week to 30 months in prison.

William Roderick, 60, of Reedsport pleaded guilty to assault, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana and methamphetamine, said Jeffrey Sweet, the deputy district attorney in Douglas County.

The victim, John W. Cheesman, 44, of Marcola, survived the Feb. 6 shooting. The bullet from the .22-caliber rifle struck him in front of his right ear, but did not penetrate his skull.

"We discussed the sentence extensively with the victim," Sweet said. "He believes it is appropriate,"

Roderick was taking care of a friend's house along the Smith River southwest of Eugene when he thought he saw a nutria in the river. Roderick went inside to get the rifle, returned outside and fired at his target.

"He aimed, but he did not look," Sweet said. "It was extremely reckless."

Sweet said he believes Roderick thought he was shooting at a rodent, noting that a nutria killed by Roderick a few days before had been found on the bank.

Roderick, who immediately went to Cheesman's aid, admitted smoking marijuana about five hours before the incident, Sweet said. He was charged with methamphetamine possession after paraphernalia was found during a search of his house.

Because of a prior felony drug conviction, it was illegal for Roderick to own or handle firearms. He forfeited three guns he owned and admitted to handling two other weapons, Sweet said.

Cheesman, an avid diver, was in the river looking at different species of fish.

Nutrias are rodents native to South America that were introduced to Oregon in the 1930s in a failed attempt at a cheaper fur source.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)