Days before election, an Idaho mayor shot and injured his son. He was just sentenced
When Ricky York walked out of a courtroom at the Payette County Courthouse early Friday, he embraced his wife. The former mayor of New Plymouth had just been sentenced for shooting his then-30-year-old son in the arm following an argument.
Third District Judge Kiley Stuchlik placed the 72-year-old father on probation for five years, following a binding plea agreement between the prosecution and defense. When asked whether he’d like to make a statement, York said he regretted the shooting.
“I’m sorry, that’s the best I can do right now,” he said.
York pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery and, in exchange, the remaining misdemeanors against him — possession of a deadly weapon with the intent to assault, and use of a deadly weapon — were dismissed, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
With a binding deal, Stuchlik had two choices: follow or reject. If she didn’t follow the attorney’s requests, then York would have been able to withdraw his guilty plea and go forward with a criminal trial. But Stuchlik said she found the agreement “appropriate.”
“I think this was a one-time incident,” Stuchlik said. The incident was “unfortunate,” she said, but acknowledged that York’s son also had a role in the argument.
Stuchlik also granted York the ability to receive a withheld judgment. As long as he follows the terms of his probation, York will be able to ask the court to dismiss the felony. This means that York doesn’t have to say he’s been convicted of a felony — a common disclosure on many applications and background checks — as Stuchlik won’t order a judgment of conviction.
He’s restricted from owning any firearms and could be fined up to $1,000 if he violates his probation.
Boise-based defense attorney Aaron Hooper, who represented York, said in court Friday that most people think of a withheld judgment as a “gift,” but he called it an “opportunity,” because York could face a much harsher punishment if he violated his probation. In that case, York could be sentenced to the maximum punishment for aggravated battery: 15 years in prison.
But Hooper wasn’t worried. He said York is “absolutely” capable of following the terms of his probation, which the prosecution echoed.
“Ricky York is not a risk to the community,” Hooper added during the hearing.
Court documents detail what happened
In early November 2023, York’s son came home in an “irritated mood” and drank two beers, along with a shot of liquor, York’s wife told police, according to a three-page affidavit filed by the Payette County Sheriff’s Office.
York’s son also said later in court that he was having a “rough day,” according to a transcript of the January preliminary hearing. He added that his father had been upset that dinner wasn’t ready when he got home.
York — who was also drinking — and his son were “bickering back and forth” and started “screaming at each other,” the affidavit said. His son also admitted to pushing his father during the altercation, which Hooper argued during Friday’s sentencing gave the defense an avenue to argue self-defense.
“It’s a tough situation because we’re dealing with family,” Hooper said in court. “Sometimes these crazy events can just happen.”
York grabbed a small knife, which his wife took from him, according to the affidavit. He then went to his bedroom, grabbed his .357 magnum revolver, came back into the living room and pointed the gun at his son.
York’s son said during the January hearing that he went to walk away from his dad because his mother was saying, “Come back. Come back (or) he will shoot you.” York then shot him in the left arm.
The then-30-year-old was taken to a hospital in Boise, where he was stitched up, but he said in court that the medical staff told him he was “very lucky” because the bullet didn’t hit any muscles.
“If I wanted to kill my son, I would have shot him in the center of his chest,” York told a detective during an interview, according to the affidavit. “I didn’t shoot him in the leg because there was a possibility of hitting an artery — so I shot him in the arm.”
Hooper claimed during the sentencing that there were “a lot of mistakes” made by the Sheriff’s Office in the case. He said he didn’t think the errors were malicious, but he believed the prosecution would have lost a lot of its evidence.
Hooper had previously filed a motion to suppress body-camera footage of York’s arrest, where he was questioned, saying his client had not been read his Miranda rights. The prosecution argued that York voluntarily provided all the information to authorities.
Days after his arrest last year, York lost his race for re-election against Lisa Binggeli, who received nearly 75% of the vote.
This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 6:53 PM.
