A retired doorman from Queens, Charles Foehner, 67, is going to prison after taking a plea deal. The news is a followup to the true crime case when the old man shot and killed a man two years ago. At the time, he feared the man, Cody Gonzalez, was trying to rob him. Actually, the robber had previous criminal convictions.
The Plea Deal
The update arrived via The New York Daily News on November 20. The outlet noted that “Charles Foehner pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree during a brief court appearance.” So, he will be serving four years inside prison.
When the case first arrived in 2023, plenty of people had a lot to say about it. In the comments section of a video about his arraignment, plenty of true crime followers seemed upset that he faced charges.
One person commented, “WoW, he did a service and goes to jail. What a Freakin joke!!! They snag thugs every day with stolen guns, and they slap them on the wrist and away they go. Law Abiding citizen gets treated like a Terrorist!”
Meanwhile another one opined, “Sounds like he was ready for the BS that came his way.”
Not Charged For The Killing
The initial story was that a would-be mugger got shot. So, lots of people felt he acted in self defense. However, he wasn’t ever charged for the killing, although the robber only had a pen and not a knife or a gun.
Still the latest updates revealed that he could have faced a 25-year prison sentence if he hadn’t gone for a plea deal.
The event happened outside his apartment in Kew Gardens. It was around two in the morning on May 31, 2023. Cody Gonzalez, who was 32, approached Foehner.
Next, he demanded money and cigarettes. Security video showed Gonzalez moving toward Foehner who then took out a revolver and fired several times. Gonzalez died there.
Lots Of Guns
The prosecution revealed that when they searched the old man’s home, they found more than twenty guns of varying descriptions. Unfortunately, he didn’t have licenses for all of them. And that’s what got him a prison sentence.
At his first court hearing, Judge Jerry Lannece set Charles Foehner’s bail high. Apparently the judge worried a lot because he had an unlicensed weapon which could threaten the general public. Notably, he admitted he intended to shoot the mugger because he feared the amount of street crime in his area.
What are your thoughts on the plea deal landing the old man a prison term of four years? Do you think he shouldn’t have gone to prison? Or, do you feel that over two dozen weapons seems excessive? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates.