BEDFORD — Kameron L. McMaken has been sentenced to 16 years in the Indiana Department of Correction after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony, in connection with the fatal shooting of his father, Chad McMaken.
Lawrence County Superior Court II Judge Robert Cline delivered the sentence, suspending 10 years of the 16-year term. Upon release, McMaken will serve 10 years of probation. As part of his sentencing conditions, McMaken is required to obtain an associate’s degree while incarcerated and complete several programs ordered by Judge Cline. Upon completion of these terms, he may file for a sentence modification. The firearm used in the crime was ordered to be disposed of, and McMaken received credit for 231 days served.
Representing the state was Deputy Chief Prosecutor Sarah Cummings, and representing McMaken was Chief Public Defender Tim Sledd.
Victim’s Family Supports Plea Agreement
The decision to accept the plea agreement was heavily influenced by the wishes of the victim’s family, who testified on Kameron McMaken’s behalf.
Judge Cline acknowledged the weight of their input, stating, “I absolutely believe the victim’s family has input on the outcome of a case. I firmly believe victims have rights, and the court must consider their wishes. Because of that reason, I will accept this plea agreement.”
Kameron McMaken’s mother, Mary, and brother, Jordan, spoke to the court, advocating for the plea deal.
Mary McMaken explained that the agreement would allow her time with her son and offered context about the night of the incident. “The night all of this happened, Chad was agitated and could be very aggressive. We learned to walk on eggshells around him,” she told the court. “I wish Chad were still here, but I know in my heart his death was not intentional. We should be able to live and heal and remember Chad.”
Jordan McMaken described his brother as his best friend and shared his belief that the shooting was unintentional. “He is a sweet individual and I am lucky to call him my little brother,” Jordan testified. “That night, my father was intoxicated and upset over many things, which led him to strike me. I left the homestead instead of retaliating… What happened was an accident, and I don’t think my brother should be behind bars for the rest of his life.”
Details of the Incident
The fatal incident occurred at the McMaken residence in southern Lawrence County. A protective sweep by Captain Lonnie Johnson located Chad McMaken’s body on the kitchen floor, where a gunshot wound to the head was determined to be the initial cause of death. A firearm matching Kameron’s description was found near the body after Indiana State Police executed a search warrant.
During a subsequent interview, Kameron McMaken told detectives that a confrontation began after his father and brother had been drinking and his parents had a loud argument. He admitted to retrieving a loaded 20-gauge single-shot shotgun from under his bed and placing it in the kitchen.
Kameron claimed that the final confrontation began when his father told him to leave the house. When his father moved toward his bedroom, where the animals were, a shoving match began. Kameron stated he then picked up the shotgun, pointed it at his father, and pulled the trigger.
