Not Guilty Verdict in the Death of a Jersey Shore Infant

WILLIAMSPORT — It took a Lycoming County jury less than two hours today to return a not guilty verdict against a Jersey Shore man charged in the May 2015 death of his girlfriend’s infant son.

The all female jury returned a verdict of acquittal in the case of Brandon Scott Hoffman, 21, charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and related offenses in the death of 18-month-old Bryson Shoemaker.

According to pennlive.com, crying was heard in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. Presiding Judge Marc Lovecchio ordered Hoffman’s immediate release; the defendant has been in prison for more than a year in default of bail.

Hoffman had maintained the child’s death was an accident, incurred when he was performing a professional wrestling hold on the infant.

The trail had begun last Wednesday. The infant’s mother, Sierra Shoemaker had testified she had never seen Hoffman get physically rough with her son. She was a prosecution witness in the case. Hoffman offered no comment after the verdict was read.