Brian St. John

LOCK HAVEN — Brian St. John, III, 22, has been sentenced to up to 25 years in state prison for the shooting death of Jakob Haines in February of 2021.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts in September: one felony count of aggravated assault and one count of involuntary manslaughter — a first degree misdemeanor.

The felony count of aggravated assault saw a sentence of between 51 months and 20 years, along with a $5,000 fine. Meanwhile, the first degree misdemeanor count of involuntary manslaughter received a sentence of between 9 months and 5 years.

The two sentences are to be served consecutively, for a total of at least 60 months and up to 25 years in state prison, along with the fine.

President Judge Craig P. Miller presided over the sentencing.

During September’s hearing on the guilty plea, Judge Michael F. Salisbury, after reading a summary of the incident that occurred on Feb. 26, 2021 which led to charges against St. John, requested he tell him what he did himself.

The summary from Salisbury reflected that on Feb. 26, 2021 at a home along Brewery Hollow in Woodward Township, St. John removed a Taurus revolver from a drawer and pointed it at Haines and pulled the trigger, shooting Haines in the chest and subsequently causing his death.

When asked to tell Salisbury what he did, St. John said he removed the revolver from a kitchen drawer and out of a soft case.

After a few attempts from Salisbury to finish his story, St. John said “I pointed it in (Haines’) direction and pulled the trigger.”

Earlier, St. John said he “didn’t open the chamber” properly to see if the weapon was loaded. He further stated his actions were “reckless and negligent” and caused Haines’ death.