Guilty plea in shooting

By Frank Rizzo
MONTICELLO — Joe Naughton will face a maximum six months in jail and five years probation when he gets sentenced on March 17 for shooting and killing Lori Schubeler in the Western Hotel bar in Callicoon on April 13, 2008.
Naughton formally pled guilty to one count of criminally negligent homicide, a Class E felony, and criminal possession of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor, in the death of Schubeler, a waitress at the Western.
Naughton, 65, owner of the bar/restaurant, appeared in Sullivan County Court on Tuesday in front of County Court Judge Burton Ledina.
The most dramatic part of the hearing came when Judge Ledina asked Naughton a series of questions about the night of Schubeler’s death.
Naughton admitted to having been under the influence of alcohol while handling the unregistered semi-automatic .25 caliber pistol, and therefore his ability to handle the gun was impaired.
He also admitted that the gun was pointed at Schubeler and his finger was on the trigger when it went off.
Upon questioning, Naughton admitted to pulling back the slide mechanism on top of the handgun while the loaded magazine was still in the gun. He then admitted looking in the chamber, which was empty. When he released the slide mechanism he sent a cartridge into the gun’s chamber. A Mr. Harvey, a guest at the Western, was present during the shooting, Naughton said.
According to the Grand Jury indictment, the bullet struck Schubeler, a community actress, in the lung, aorta and bronchus, killing her.
The original indictment also included a manslaughter charge in the second degree, which has been dropped in the plea bargain with the DA’s office.