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By Tricia L. Nadolny, Inquirer Staff Writer
A West Chester man was sentenced Monday to serve nine years in prison for the shooting of a former professional soccer player outside a borough bar last summer.
Common Pleas Judge Patrick Carmody said Curtis Zebley committed a “pure, idiotic, callous act” when he fired on a man who was running away from him.
“Before you even met the victims, you’re walking around drinking with a loaded gun,” Carmody said. “Guns and booze don’t mix.”
The August 2013 shooting left 35-year-old Jason Hotchkin, a former player for the Harrisburg City Islanders who had been in West Chester coaching a travel youth soccer team, in critical condition. After three surgeries, the Harrisburg man walks with a limp and is unable to run.
He said he had made his living as a coach but now must focus on working with older teams, unable to demonstrate moves for younger players.
“That’s where most of the joy comes from, is working with the kids and seeing them grow up,” Hotchkin said as he left the court.
A second victim and former player for the Harrisburg team, Moffat Ongwena, was pistol-whipped by the 26-year-old Zebley during the incident but has recovered from his injuries.
Officials say Zebley shot at Hotchkin – striking him three times – after becoming upset that the soccer coaches were talking with two of his female friends. The shooting took place on the borough’s main drag as bar patrons were emptying into the streets, according to prosecutor Mike Noone. He said Zebley first fired a “warning shot” into the sky, putting others at risk.
Zebley pleaded guilty in March in exchange for prosecutors dropping a count of attempted murder to two counts each of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Zebley, his attorney and the judge agreed Monday that the incident was out of character for the man, a father of one who worked as a mechanic before the shooting. Nearly a dozen family and friends were in court to support him.
Before being sentenced to serve 9 to 18 years, Zebley said Ongwena had thrown the first punch in the fight but then tearfully apologized.
“I’ll never forget that night. And I’ll always try to make it right for the victims,” he said.
Then he conceded: “There’s never really enough that can be done.”
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