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Hoeker in 2017 mugshot
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART – A judge denied a motion to set aside a conviction against a 69-year-old Jenison man who carelessly discharged his gun, killing a 13-year-old Wyoming, Michigan boy while they were squirrel hunting in Greenwood Township near Hesperia Feb. 18, 2017.
Judge Susan K. Sniegowski denied the motion to expunge the conviction of Roger Erick Hoeker Monday, Dec. 16, during a motion hearing in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court, said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon.
Hoeker entered a “no contest” plea to the high-court misdemeanor of careless discharge of a firearm resulting in injury or death, July 16, 2018. He was sentenced by Judge Robert D. Springstead to 90 days in jail and one year probation Sept. 10, 2018.
Hoeker shot William “Billy” Gort, Jr. in the head after discharging his .22 caliber rifle while hunting on state land.
“You killed my boy,” said William Gort, Billy’s father, to Hoeker in an emotionally-charged statement during his 2018 sentencing hearing. “I ain’t seen my son in two years, and I guess you know how that’s going to go for the rest of my life.”
“My grandson is dead – William Gort, Jr. is dead,” said Tom Ambrose II, Billy’s grandfather. “We trusted Roger Hoeker with our precious boy.”
“Roger Hoeker put a bullet in the back of Billy Gort’s head,” the grandfather said. “The bullet entered right in the back of his head and silenced Billy.”
Billy’s best friend, who was hunting with Hoeker and Gort, will be emotionally scarred for life because he was with Billy when he died, Ambrose said. “He watched him take his last breath.
“Roger showed no remorse. Roger has not told anybody he’s sorry. All we hear are excuses.”
Hoeker, who had no prior criminal record, was serving as a mentor with a youth outreach program called Christianity Outdoors, and he also was a Michigan hunter safety instructor, according to the Michigan State Police.
Gort was on a hunting trip with Hoeker and his best friend. “The teen hunters were hunting with shotguns, and Hoeker was hunting with a .22 caliber rifle. Orange hunter safety attire was reported to have been worn at the time of the shooting,” according to MSP.
The shooting occurred near East Cleveland Road and 192nd Avenue in Greenwood Township, according to MSP.
Billy, who was an avid hunter, was a student at Pinewood Middle School in the Kentwood school district.
“I told the court what happened in 2017 was a horrible situation, and it should remain on his record,” said Prosecutor Bizon of Monday’s motion hearing.
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