Couple face charges in death of their son

Staff report

WARREN

A Newton Falls couple has been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children as a result of the accidental shooting death of their 4-year-old son on Aug. 4.

Michael J. Stewart, 29, and Amanda R. Stewart, 34, of Trumbull Court, pleaded innocent Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to the charges, which carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Both are in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond. Michael Stewart returns to court Monday for his first pretrial hearing. Amanda Stewart’s next hearing will be Wednesday.

Police said the boy shot himself in the chest with a gun that was left unsecured in his parents’ bedroom. The boy was unsupervised at the time of the shooting.

John Kuivila, Newton Falls police chief, said in August it appeared that Michael Stewart was at work at the time of the shooting, and Amanda Stewart was outside “chasing the dog.”

The family lived in the East River Gardens neighborhood in the southeastern part of the city and had four children. The other children, 6 months, 21/2 and 6, went to live with relatives just after the shooting, police said.

Court records indicate that Michael Stewart is now living in Windham, and Amanda Stewart is living in Garrettsville.