Young hunter who killed hiker gets 30 days

updated 5:40 a.m. ET July 11, 2009

MOUNT VERNON, Washington - A teenage hunter who shot and killed a hiker he mistook for a bear has been sentenced to 30 days in juvenile detention and 120 hours of community service.

Tyler J. Kales, then 14, was hunting with his older brother in August when he shot 54-year-old Pamela Almli of Oso, who was trekking on the popular Sauk mountain hiking trail north of Seattle.

Kales, who has since turned 15, apologized to the victim's family at Friday's sentencing and said he hoped they could forgive him.

The victim's sister, Gail Blacker, told him that "in one second you destroyed everything."

Kales, of Concrete, was convicted last month of second-degree manslaughter with a firearm.

Skagit County Superior Court Judge Susan Cook also sentenced him to a year of probation and said his community service must include four hours of hunting safety education.

More from msnbc.com Now boarding: Flight 1225 to North Pole Predictions 101: Bowl picks for Christmas weekend Cosmic Log: Pick the year’s weirdest scientific wonders ConsumerMan: Some retailers relax return policies Do you get good abs from sex — or vice versa? Kim Peek, a man who inspired more than ‘Rain Man’ Sluggish new home sales show rocky recovery

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Report: Hasan asked about killing GIs in '08 ‘Balloon boy’ parents get jail time Va. post office standoff ends peacefully Cops: Pediatrician may have victimized dozens Cops: Woman threatened Michelle Obama Madoff moved to medical wing of prison Levi Johnston's mother serving home confinement Hey, you with the firebomb! Wrong house! NY court: Consider harsher sentence in terror case Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: