Michigan woman charged in shooting death of her grandson takes plea deal

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. – A 65-year-old woman charged with violating Michigan's new gun storage law in the death of her grandson pleaded no contest Tuesday to another charge and is not expected to face prison time.

5-year-old Braxton Dykstra was shot and killed April 1 when a 6-year-old cousin gained access to a loaded shotgun at Theresa Robart's home in Newaygo County in western Michigan. Another child witnessed the shooting.

Robart's husband, Karl Robart, was recently sentenced to more than three years in prison after pleading no contest to violating the retention law. The shotgun was his.

Firearms must be locked when children are present. The consequences of a violation depend on the details and whether someone is injured or killed.

Theresa Robart pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse. Newaygo County prosecutors will not recommend prison time when she returns to court, WOOD-TV reported.

According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, at least 21 states have criminal statutes related to failure to keep a gun away from children.