Toms River Man Pleads Guilty To Child Endangerment In Shooting Death Of 6-Year-Old Brandon Holt

The Toms River father of a 4-year-old who took a gun from his home and accidentally shot and killed a playmate has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of children by keeping unsecured firearms in his home, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced Thursday.

Anthony R. Senatore, 35, of McCormick Drive, pled guilty in Ocean County Superior Court to two counts of endangering the welfare of children as part of a negotiated plea agreement, McClain said.

On April 8, 2013, Senatore’s 4-year-old son gained access to an unsecured .22 caliber rifle in Senatore’s bedroom and fired a single shot that struck 6-year-old neighbor, Brandon Holt, in the head, while the two boys were playing in the yard in front of Senatore’s home. Holt was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead the next day.

Senatore pled guilty before Ocean County Superior Court Judge Wendell Daniels to one count of second degree endangering the welfare children for causing harm to the children for whom he has the legal duty of care, and to one count of third degree endangering the welfare of children in Holt’s death, McClain said. Assistant Prosecutor Diane Ruberton handled the case.

Senatore had been indicted in September 2013 on six counts of endangering the welfare of children -- one count for each of the five unsecured guns found accessible to his own children, and one count of endangering the welfare of Brandon Holt, the prosecutor’s office said.

In addition to the loaded .22 caliber rifle used to fire the fatal shot, a Stevens 12-gauge shotgun, two Harrington & Richardson shotguns and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun were all found unsecured, in close proximity to ammunition and accessible to Senatore’s own children, who were 12, 8 and 4 at the time, he said.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office handled the case because Senatore’s family has connections to Ocean County law enforcement.

Senatore is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5. Under the plea agreement, he will be sentenced to three years in prison on each of the two counts, to run concurrently, McClain said. He also must surrender all of his guns and his firearms purchaser ID card, the prosecutor said.

The plea agreement reached is for significantly less jail time than sought in an initial plea deal. According to a November 2013 article in the Patch on Senatore’s initial not guilty plea, prosecutors sought seven years in prison, which Senatore’s lawyer, Robert A. Ebberup of Toms River, flatly rejected at the time, saying he needed time to review the case.

He also said Senatore was extremely upset about the death of Brandon Holt.

“My client is deeply horrified over what took place and feels awful about it,” Ebberup said. “His feelings go out to the family. Brandon Holt was a wonderful, wonderful little boy. We just hope he’s in Heaven right now. We’re sure he is.”

Pictured: Anthony R. Senatore, sitting, during his November hearing.