Stepfather Pleads Guilty in Death of Lewiston Boy, Faces Sentencing
Robert McCoy, the stepfather of 4-year-old Jasper Smith from Lewiston, Maine, has pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. This plea comes after Jasper accidentally shot himself in the head at their family apartment in May 2025. McCoy, who initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea in Androscoggin County Superior Court. The incident occurred when Jasper found a 9mm handgun, registered to McCoy, in their home. Jasper was transported to Central Maine Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services was involved in the investigation, and Jasper's siblings were removed from the home. McCoy is scheduled to be sentenced in late September or early October. 
