Man who shot snorkeler, mistaking him for rodent, gets 2 1/2 years in prison

REEDSPORT, Ore. — A man who shot a snorkeler in the head after mistaking him for a large, water-dwelling rodent has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison.

William Roderick, 60, pleaded guilty to assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of marijuana and methamphetamine, prosecutor Jeffrey Sweet said.

The victim, John W. Cheesman, 44, survived the Feb. 6 shooting. The bullet from the .22-caliber rifle struck him in front of his right ear, but did not penetrate his skull.

"We discussed the sentence extensively with the victim," Sweet said. "He believes it is appropriate."

Roderick was taking care of a friend's house along the Smith River southwest of Eugene when he thought he saw a nutria, a cross between a beaver and a muskrat, in the river. Roderick went inside to get the rifle, returned outside and fired at his target.

"He aimed, but he did not look," Sweet said. "It was extremely reckless."

Sweet said he believes Roderick thought he was shooting at a rodent, noting that a nutria killed by Roderick a few days earlier had been found on the bank.

Roderick, who immediately went to Cheesman's aid, admitted smoking marijuana about five hours before the incident, Sweet said. He was charged with methamphetamine possession after paraphernalia was found during a search of his house.

Because of a previous felony drug conviction, it was illegal for Roderick, who was sentenced Monday, to own or handle firearms. He forfeited three guns he owned and admitted handling two other weapons, Sweet said.

Cheesman, an avid diver, was in the river looking at different species of fish.