The teenager indicted for firing shots near the Eupora High School band hall last spring awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to a related federal charge.
Cole Breazeale of Eupora appeared at a change-of-plea hearing Nov. 7 at the federal building in Aberdeen. According to court documents, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock accepted a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the indictment — unlawful transport of firearms.
Sentencing before Aycock has been set for 10 a.m. Feb. 6 in Aberdeen following preparation of a presentence report.
Breazeale, 19, previously pleaded not guilty to the charge plus two other counts of possession of an unregistered firearm and carrying or using a firearm in or near a school zone. The former EHS student was indicted on the federal charges for firing multiple shots toward the school from a dirt bike on West Clark Street after authorities said he first rode it onto the band practice field March 28. No one was injured.
The plea agreement states Breazeale pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition while he was addicted to and an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The charge carries maximum possible penalties of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised probation.
The United States agreed not to charge Breazeale with any other related offenses and to dismiss all other counts of the indictment upon conclusion of sentencing on Count 1. A Webster County grand jury has also indicted Breazeale on state charges of drive-by shooting and possession of a stolen firearm.
