BB gun shooting lands man in prison

After six months in Cottonwood, Aron Schnittlinger, 20, Bonners Ferry, learned Monday that he’ll have to serve the rest of the one to three-year sentence he was originally handed down for felony aggravated assault.

“I feel Schnittlinger was treated fairly,” said Boundary County prosecutor Jack Douglas, who made the recommendation that retained jury be rescinded. “We have to take seriously the need to protect the public. He had more than a fair chance to change his ways and obviously did not want to do so, thus the proper sentence of prison was imposed.”

The crime occurred Feb. 28 when Schnittlinger, already on probation for an unrelated matter, shot two girls with a pellet gun while they were visiting his home.

After pleading guilty, jurisdiction was retained and Schnittlinger was sent to Cottonwood on the rider.

“He was given the chance to undergo the strenuous program to see if he could prove that with a changed attitude he could become a responsible citizen and thus worthy of a chance again at probation,” Douglas said.

The report from the Department of Corrections, however, indicated that he hadn’t take advantage of the opportunity, finding that he’d be a poor candidate for probation.

Judge Benjamin Simpson agreed, and ordered that Schnittlinger be sent to the Idaho State Prison to serve out the remainder of his original sentence.