LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man who admitted there's enough evidence to convict him of shooting a 12-year-old boy in the back after last year apologized to the victim before he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday.
"I understand that this young man is doing well and I'm very thankful for that," Bishop said. "And I apologize from the bottom of my heart for what happened."
Police say on June 13 of 2011 Bishop shot Jacob Eberle in the back with a shotgun after Eberle and his friends rang his doorbell in the Glenmary neighborhood and ran away. Eberle and his friends were running away when Eberle was struck by the blast.
Bishop entered an Alford Plea in the case, meaning he maintains his innocence but admits there's enough evidence to convict him at trial.
Although Bishop's attorneys requested probation, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison -- five years for assault under extreme emotional distress, three years for wanton endangerment, and two years for tampering with physical evidence.
Bishop will be eligible for parole after two years, and his attorneys can file a motion for shock probation after 100 days.
Eberle was hospitalized in intensive care after last year's shooting, but is now doing OK -- although his father says he is scared for life and still has 130 pellets from the shotgun shell in him.
"It's just been hard on the family, it's been hard to hold back," said Jacob's father, John Eberle. "He about killed my son, so it's tough."
Bishop waived his right to a separate sentencing morning in court so he was immediately taken into custody and will soon be headed to prison.
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Michael Bishop apologized for the shooting before he was sentenced and taken into custody.
Jacob Eberle spent time in ICU after the shooting.
