Boy who accidentally shot hiker pleads not guilty

MOUNT VERNON — A 14-year-old Skagit County boy accused of fatally shooting a 54-year-old hiker after he mistook her for a bear pleaded not guilty this morning to first-degree manslaughter.

With family and friends looking on, the teen made his first court appearance since being charged last month in the death of Pamela Almli. A trial date was set for Oct. 27, but defense attorneys said it would likely be delayed.

The teen, who The Times is not naming because he is being charged as a juvenile, faces up to nine months in juvenile detention.

Defense attorney Roy Howson said the teen and his family are grieving the death of Almli, an experienced hiker and sportswoman from Oso in Snohomish County. Almli was hiking with a friend on Aug. 2 when she was shot in the head, court documents allege.

The teen and his 17-year-old brother, who live in Concrete, were hunting by themselves on Sauk Mountain when they saw a "black outline" on the trail about 100 yards ahead of them, according to court documents. The younger boy said, "It's a bear, it's a bear," and, "I've got my cross hairs on it," court documents allege.

The older boy agreed and told his brother to go ahead and shoot, according to police and prosecutors.

Almli was wearing a light-blue jacket and green pants when she was shot, investigators said.

After the shooting the boys ran to the parking lot where their grandfather was parked and told him what had happened.

Skagit County prosecutors said they charged the boy because his actions were reckless.

The teen was licensed and had taken a hunting safety class when he was 9. Prosecutors say he failed to follow the Washington State Hunters guide, which warns to always use binoculars and never a telescopic sight to identify a target, and to make sure the area behind the target is clear.

It is currently legal in Washington for a licensed 14-year-old who has taken the hunting class to hunt without adult supervision.

According to state records, more than 5,200 big-game hunting licenses have been issued by the state in the first seven months of this year to children age 15 and younger.

More than 600 of them were awarded to children 10 and under, and 50 were issued to children 8 and younger.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.