Jared Directo (Solicitor's Office)SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina) -
A Spartanburg man pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature on Monday, getting a 17-year prison sentence and 5 years probation.
Solicitor Barry Barnette said Jared Directo, 28, shot Bennie Skates Jr., 33, of Cowpens, at Directo's Skyline Drive home on March 25, 2011. Skates's was shot in the upper back and the bullet lodged in his neck.
Prosecutors said witnesses saw Directo and Skates argue prior to the shooting, and Directo fled the scene afterwards. They said he was later arrested at a relative's Roebuck home.
Barnette said after previously denying that he fired the gun, Directo later admitted he did fire it accidentally.
Directo's prior criminal record included convictions for receiving stolen goods, forgery and driving without a driver's license, according to the solicitor.
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