Indictment in Shooting of Forest Service Officer
MACON: Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney, announced that Norman Clinton Hale, age 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury. Hale was charged in connection with the shooting death of United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Christopher Arby Upton. Officer Upton was killed in the line of duty on March 5, 2010 on U.S. Forest Service property in Jasper County, Georgia..
Hale was indicted on two counts of a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1114 and 1112, Killing a Federal Officer (Involuntary Manslaughter) and one count of a violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 924(c), Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. The manslaughter offense carries a maximum sentence of eight (8) years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000.00 plus three (3) year of supervised release. The firearm offense carries a mandatory, minimum, consecutive sentence of ten (10) year imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000.00 fine plus five (5) years of supervised release.
“Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
Questions concerning this case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.
