Arkansas hunter who mistook woman for a deer sentenced to jail for killing

An Arkansas hunter who mistook a woman for a deer before fatally shooting her was sentenced to a year in jail after a jury found him guilty last week of negligent homicide.

A judge in Searcy County sentenced Ronnie Hogue, 68, on Wednesday following a trial over the Nov. 22, 2016, killing of 29-year-old Stephanie Bonine in woods outside Marshall.

Hogue reportedly told authorities at the time that he had been hunting and thought Bonine was a deer.

Responding deputies said they found Bonine suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the neck, according to court documents. She died at the scene.

A jury found Hogue, of Marshall, guilty of negligent homicide, a high-level misdemeanor, as well as two hunting violations.

A judge also ordered Hogue to pay a $2,500 fine while he completes his sentence at the Searcy County jail.

Hogue additionally faces a handful of drug-related charges stemming from a Feb. 14 police search of his home.

That case is pending in circuit court.

State Desk on 04/30/2019

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