BANGOR (AP) – A 20-year-old Newport man will only have to serve 30 days of a five-year manslaughter sentence in the hunting death of his friend during last November’s deer season, the state’s first hunting fatality since 2001.

Adam Nason changed his not guilty plea to guilty Tuesday in Penobscot County Superior Court and was sentenced by Justice Nancy Mills under terms of a plea agreement that called for most of the sentence to be suspended.

Nason was accused of fatally shooting James Griffin Jr., 21, of Levant, on Nov. 8 while hunting in woods off Route 222 in Levant. Officials determined that the fatal shot was fired 15 minutes after legal hunting had ended for the day.

Prosecution and defense lawyers both expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the case.

Not a threat’

“We feel fine; this young man does not need a lengthy period of incarceration,” Assistant Attorney General William Stokes said after the hearing. “He’s not a threat.”

Nason’s lawyer, J. Hilary Billings, agreed that the sentence was appropriate for a defendant who had no prior record. “I think the circumstances were quite unique and not (likely) to be repeated,” he said.

Griffin’s family had been supportive of Nason, a longtime friend, and had visited Nason’s family after the shooting.

“Nobody wins in these things,” Stokes said. “This is an opportunity to put the legal part behind them, and I think they’re satisfied that it was a fair resolution.”

Nason, who began serving his jail term Tuesday, faces three years’ probation after his release and will be required to complete 100 hours of community service for each of those years.

“That can include a number of things, but we would prefer that he talk to younger people about hunter safety and obeying the laws,” Stokes said.

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