Anthony Gene Michanowicz, 29, Boyne City, pleaded no contest to careless discharge of a firearm causing death in the 33^rd Circuit Court. The charge is a high court misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, Michanowicz was showing a new .45 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol he had just purchased to Greg Van Stedum and another individual at a residence in the City of Charlevoix on April 14, 2018.

Michanowicz removed the magazine from the gun and handed the gun to the other man who looked at it then handed it to Greg who gave it back to Michanowicz. As Michanowicz was putting the magazine back into the pistol, it fired, killing Van Stedum.

The crime involved states that a person is guilty where, because of carelessness, recklessness or negligence, but not willfully or wantonly, a person causes or allows a firearm under his immediate control to be discharged so as to kill or injure another person.

Michanowicz pleaded no contest because of the potential for civil liability arising from the incident. A no contest plea has the same result as a guilty plea for all purposes related to the criminal case.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 12, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.