Homeland Security officer charged with murder

A Department of Homeland Security officer faces a murder charge in connection with a shooting outside his apartment after authorities dismissed a lesser charge as his trial was about to begin.

Douglas William Bates, 44, had been scheduled to go to trial Wednesday on a voluntary manslaughter charge, which carried a possible 11-year sentence.

He now faces a sentence of 40 years to life on a second-degree murder charge with a gun enhancement, authorities said.

"We didn't do it for the penalty but for the facts and the law," said Assistant District Attorney David Brent, who filed the charge.

Bates is accused of firing his gun outside his apartment at 20-year-old Bassim Chmait after a dispute with Chmait and his friends in February of 2005.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/14609671.htm

What did he do t his gun to enhance it?

Prosecutors jump on any modification to a gun. It could have been anything from non-factory grips to the addition of white paint on the sights for improved night shooting to a lighter trigger pull, all of which is done to improve accuracy.

I know a little about gun mods, but those 2 don't fall into that catagory in my mind! I was thinking more about filing pins, and adding silencers etc.

But I can believe an attorney would jump on any minute thing he can find.

that because the crime was committed with a gun, the sentencing would take that into account and additional years will be tacked onto the sentence.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: