Nearby: Man Sentenced in Fatal 2013 Driveway Shooting of Duluth Driver

The man accused in the 2013 shooting death of a 22-year-old from Duluth in a Lilburn driveway pleaded guilty to misdemeanor manslaughter Monday in a Gwinnett County court and will avoid jail time.

Phillip Sailors, 70, of Lilburn, who was initially charged with murder in the death of Rodrigo Abad Diaz Ortiz, 22, was sentenced to 12 months probation and fined $500. Sailors did not address the court or Ortiz’s family during the sentencing, the AJC and WSB-TV reported.

Sailors was accused of shooting Ortiz in his Lilburn driveway on Hillcrest Road on Jan. 23, 2013 after Ortiz had gotten lost and pulled into the driveway to turn around. Reportedly, his GPS took him to Sailors’ driveway by mistake. Sailors apparently viewed Ortiz as a threat and fired a warning shot, then at the car, in which three of Ortiz’s friends also were seated (none of the friends were injured). Ortiz was reportedly lost trying to pick up a friend across the street to go skating.

The AJC reported the plea deal was accepted by Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, which could have sought a felony conviction, Sailors’ attorney acknowledged.

Read more of the AJC report here

(Photo: Phillip Sailors. Gwinnett County Jail mug shot)

Read more on this story:

• Family of Duluth Man Killed By Mistake in 2013 Files Civil Suit
• Driveway Shooting Suspect Freed on Bond
• Slaying Suspect Granted Bond, Released
• Duluth Man Shot to Death After Pulling Into Wrong Driveway
• Attorney: Increased Crime Made Client Wary
• UPDATE: Lilburn Man Arrested, Charged with Murder
• Report: Shooting Suspect Believed Someone Was Trying to Enter Home