Fortner Guilty, Sentenced, for Hand in Fatal Card Game

Richard Fortner, free on bail for two years after a card game gone awry led to a shooting and more, was found guilty on every count, as reported by CNN Justice.

On September 17, the six-person jury found Fortner guilty for the manslaughter of Chris Kachnik, aggravated assault of Glenn Northcraft, battery of his ex-wife Geraldine Bloomquist and battery of Barbara Kachnik.

Fortner has elicited only an upbeat attitude in court.  On the day of the verdict he bypassed the courtroom elevator for the stairs - all four flights - though he has had double knee replacement.  In his anticipation of the verdict, Fortner had already given his sister his watch, ring and other valuables to hold for him.

While the verdict was read Fortner continued to sip on his milkshake, the remnants of his last chosen meal as a free man.

As Fortner's defense attorney, Michael Bross, was exiting the courtroom Fortner's sister, Patricia Baker, asked him what was going to happen next to her brother.  His response, "he's going to jail!" made her cry.

A few weeks after Fortner's conviction, he returned to the Brevard County Courthouse for sentencing. 

Baker, on her brother's behalf, said "Richard has stated his great sadness over taking another man's life.  He still sees his face."

In regards to her brother receiving a lengthy prison sentence, Baker said, "Richard will not live that long in jail, not with his health problems.  He will not live.  It will be a death sentence."

Victims also delivered their own statements attesting to Fortner's aggressive behavior.  His ex-wife, Geraldine Bloomquist, contended that he always had a problem with losing at games and said that when they were together, "You always had to win no matter what game it was.  Dick had to be the winner."

Fortner, 72, told the judge that he knows he has to take his "share of responsibility…I can only apologize." 

When asked by the judge who was responsible for the shooting Fortner stated, "Chris needs to share that part of the responsibility.  He's the one that grabbed me.  He's the one that was hitting on me, judge.  I didn't hit him…I shot him once so he would let me go, but he didn't."

Bross stated that due to early-onset Alzheimer's or dementia - of which Fortner has been diagnosed - that his client wouldn't live long in a prison setting.  Fortner has already suffered with both asthma and acid-reflux as his medications were withheld during his incarceration.

Fortner's dementia, per Bross, allows him to be sorry but prevents him from feeling responsible.

Fortner was ultimately sentenced to 20 years, plus ten years of probation, on the manslaughter charge.  The sentencing on the other charges will be served concurrently - They include 15 for aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older with a firearm, 5 years for battery of a person 65 years of age or older and 1 year for simple battery.

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