Michigan grandpa convicted of safe storage violation after 5-year-old grandson shot to death

(WWJ) — In one of the first major convictions under Michigan’s new gun laws, a grandfather from West Michigan has pleaded no contest to charges stemming from the death of his 5-year-old grandson.

Karl Robart, 62, pleaded no contest Monday to a firearms safe storage violation with a minor present and inflicted death to another. Under the plea agreement, he will be sentenced in October to between 19 months and three years in prison.

His wife, Theresa Robart, is facing the same charges and is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Their grandson, Braxton Dykstra, was shot and killed with a shotgun that was left behind a bedroom door in the couple’s home near White Cloud, about 50 miles north of Grand Rapids.

The incident happened on April 1 as Braxton and his cousin were watching movies at their grandparents’ house. Authorities say a 6-year-old cousin picked up the gun, pointed it at Braxton and pulled the trigger.

Robart had told police he had kept the gun in the same place for years, but didn’t know it was loaded.

His conviction is among the first cases to be tried after the safe storage law and a number of other gun-related laws took effect in February. The safe storage law requires all firearms in homes where children are present to be securely stored, such as with a gun lock or in a safe. The requirement also applies if children are visiting the home.