Stark County father pleads guilty to negligent homicide, sentenced for death of 7-year-old son

STARK COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - The Stark County father pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in connection to the death of his 7-year-old son.

The little boy was inside a room at the Knights Inn Motel in Plain Township on June 21 when he was shot around 1 a.m.

RELATED: 3 indicted for shooting death of 7-year-old boy at Stark County hotel

His father, William Dolch, 37, was indicted on the charges of reckless homicide, endangering children, tampering with evidence and having weapons under disability.

Dolch pleaded not guilty to an amended charge Monday and was sentenced to five years, according to court documents.

Dolch, another man and one woman were indicted by a Stark County Grand Jury in connection to the homicide on Aug. 14.

His girlfriend, Brittany Franko, 29, was charged with obstructing official business and pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Sept. 6.

She will be back in court Nov. 20 for a pretrial hearing.

Stark County deputies have previously said she tried to help Dolch cover up the crime.

The third person, Joseph King, 33, was indicted on the charge of tampering with evidence and pleaded guilty Aug. 26.

He was sentenced to community control.

According to deputies, King “did knowingly tamper with the firearm” that killed the 7-year-old.

Two other children were also in the motel room, but they were not injured.