Abbot man gets 18 years in shooting death of his father

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — An Abbot man who last month pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2015 shooting death of his father will spend 18 years in prison after being sentenced on March 31 in Piscataquis County Superior Court.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

MANSLAUGHTER SENTENCING — Zachary Grant of Abbot listens to his defense attorney Jeffrey Silverstein of Bangor during his manslaughter sentencing on Thursday, March 31 in Dover-Foxcroft.  

Zachary Grant, 38, was sentenced to 25 years in prison with all but 18 suspended by Superior Court Justice Robert Mullen. Grant will serve four years probation when he gets out.

Mullen said the state has a three-step sentencing process — determining the basic sentence, determining the maximum length with all the relevant mitigating and aggravating factors taken into account, and weighing Grant’s own interests vs. the protection of the public to see if any part of the sentence will be suspended.

“Considering the above factors, I’ve determined all but 18 years of the above sentence will be suspended with four years’ probation,” Mullen said.

Grant showed no emotion as the sentence was pronounced.

Mullen said conditions of probation include no alcohol or illegal drugs, no possession of firearms or weapons, to take any and all needed medications as well as submit to searches.

Mullen said he hopes Grant seeks treatment and “while incarcerated I hope you find some peace.”

Assistant Attorney General John Alsop, who prosecuted the case, sought a sentence of 25 years.

“I think the sentence was appropriate, that was the range we were asking for,” Alsop said. “Our position was the sentence should be in the upper range of sentences available for manslaughter, and that’s what the judge did.”

Defense attorney Jeffrey Silverstein of Bangor was seeking a shorter sentence, as Grant testified he had no memory of the events of the day his father died. Dressed in a striped colored shirt and jeans, Grant said, “I don’t know how to explain it, I don’t know why myself.”

Grant fatally shot his father, David Grant, 61, on May 12, 2015, at the older man’s home in Parkman. Grant then turned the gun on himself and suffered head injuries.

During the proceedings, his left eye remained closed.

“We’re a bit disappointed with that sentencing position as we were hopeful in light of the support that appeared on behalf of Zach that the judge would impose less time to serve,” Silverstein said, as over a half dozen of Grant’s family and friends addressed the court and about two dozen sat at the proceedings.

Silverstein said he told Grant that 16 years would be the higher range for his sentence.

“My client has asked for a review, so I will be asking the Supreme Judicial Court to allow him an opportunity to appeal his sentence, but that remains uncertain because appeals are discretionary. So that will get filed within the next week or two, and then we will see what happens thereafter,” Silverstein said.