‘Nobody will win.’ Centre County man who shot his father heading to state prison
A Centre County man who shot his father during an argument last year was sentenced Thursday to at least three years in state prison.
Kyle J. Hockenberry, 28, was sentenced by Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine to a maximum of eight years. He received credit for about four months served in the Centre County Correctional Facility.
Hockenberry is eligible for the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive, a program that could drop his minimum sentence to 27 months if he completes recommended programs and remains free of misconduct.
He’s scheduled to report Feb. 28, the day after his son’s second birthday.
The prosecution of Hockenberry, Centre County First Assistant Public Defender Lora Rupert said after the hearing, represented a “very unique case with a difficult set of circumstances.”
Ronald Hockenberry repeatedly said Thursday he did not want his son arrested. His wiped away tears while telling Grine he knows his son is “not happy with his actions.”
“We still have things that we got to work through, but there’s no way we’re going to be able to work through these things with my son sitting in prison,” the elder Hockenberry said. “... I know it was wrong, Your Honor, but I feel it’s going to make him even worse. My son has done enough time in my heart for what he done.”
Hockenberry was arrested by state police at Rockview in June after shooting his father in the left leg with a shotgun. He recently moved into his parent’s Worth Township home before the shooting, investigators wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
Hockenberry packed some of his belongings and began to leave, but his truck caught fire at the end of the driveway. The weapon did not fire the first time he pulled the trigger; he cycled the firearm and pulled the trigger a second time, hitting his father in the thigh.
Ronald Hockenberry told Grine he was released from UPMC Altoona two days after the shooting. He was installing shingles on a roof the day after.
His son apologized Thursday, telling Grine he would “accept what the punishment is.”
Hockenberry, of Benner Township, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault, as well as one misdemeanor count each of recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats. Three charges, including one count of attempted homicide, were dropped.
“The commonwealth has the ability to pursue charges even if the victims don’t wish to pursue that. Obviously, in this situation, it’s very unfortunate and nobody will win,” Rupert said. “I think this is the best we can do to move forward.”