Michigan man sentenced in trooper shooting

The man who shot a state trooper on Interstate 75 in Findlay last October was sentenced to 26 to 31 years in prison Wednesday. Robert T. Hathorn Jr., 43, of Muskegon, Michigan, was sentenced in Hancock County Common Pleas Court for the shooting of Trooper Josef Brobst and five other felony offenses. Twenty-four years of the sentence are mandatory. The shooting occurred after Brobst stopped Hathorn for speeding and had him step out of the Chevrolet Suburban. Having smelled an odor of marijuana, Brobst called for a second trooper to conduct a search of Hathorn's vehicle. Before the second trooper arrived, Hathorn attacked Brobst, pushed him over a guardrail and pulled the trigger of Brobst's holstered gun, shooting him in the groin. "This was absolutely senseless. This did not need to happen," Common Pleas Judge Reginald Routson said to Hathorn moments before giving the sentence. "I don't know what your reasons or motivation were for attacking this trooper and trying to take his gun, but whatever they were, it couldn't be worse than what you are facing now." Judge Routson cited the harm to Brobst. "This experience for him has been life altering both from a psychological and a physical standpoint," Routson said to Hathorn. "And by life altering, it's likely that he is going to probably be plagued with feelings and emotions and all sorts of emotional difficulties from this bad experience for the rest of his life." Hathorn at one point in the proceeding stood up and turned toward Brobst, who was in the courtroom, and apologized to him. But it had an air of bizarre theater. The apology did not come when Routson offered Hathorn the chance. Instead, it came later as an interruption when, moments before Routson uttered the sentence, the judge was explaining the factors he considered in deciding Hathorn's sentence. Hathorn's apology also came after he had maintained his innocence throughout the trial last month, claiming Brobst shot at him first, which video shows did not occur. After Hathorn's apology, Routson cited Hathorn's inconsistencies. "Throughout the course of the trial there has been the denial of any activity in the face of a video we all saw multiple times, an accusation first that (Hathorn) was attacked by Trooper Brobst, that he shot at you, neither of which were true," Routson said. "The film speaks for itself." The forensic evidence and testimony of expert witnesses also spoke for themselves, Routson said. "It just didn't happen as you alleged," he said. "I know that you apologized but you denied any involvement (despite) the vast amount of evidence." Hathorn was sentenced to 17 years in prison for felonious assault of Brobst with a gun. The offense is a first-degree felony. For aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, in using the gun belonging to Brobst, Hathorn was sentenced to seven years in prison. Two counts of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, were merged together for sentencing. Hathorn was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the offense. He was originally charged and convicted of two counts because he had two prior felony convictions, prohibiting him from having a gun. Hathorn was sentenced to 12 months in prison for fleeing the scene after committing the felony offense against Brobst. The offense is a fourth-degree felony. For tampering with evidence, altering or concealing or removing evidence when he left the Chevrolet Suburban hidden in a field west of County Road 140, Hathorn was sentenced to 12 months in prison. The offense is a third-degree felony. Wilin: 419-427-8413