Thomas Jadlowski

MAYVILLE — Thomas Jadlowski, the Sherman man who told police he thought he saw a deer when he fatally shot his neighbor in November 2017, has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and hunting after hours.

The plea deal was accepted Thursday in Chautauqua County Court in front of Judge David Foley. Jadlowski was indicted by a grand jury in March on a charge of second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Rosemary Billquist on Nov. 22, 2017.

Jadlowski told police he thought he saw a deer when he fired a single round that struck Billquist, 43, while she was walking her two dogs near her Armenian Road home in Sherman. Billquist was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead.

The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m., after the sun had set, police said.

As part of the plea deal, Jadlowski has agreed to waive his right to appeal. He is facing a term of 1-3 to 1 1/3-4 years in state prison when sentenced on Jan. 14.

“This has never been about vengeance,” Billquist’s husband, Jamie said in a press release. “That is not what Rosie would have wanted. From the beginning I wanted the defendant to take responsibility and be held accountable. I want the next hunter who thinks about shooting after hours to think, ‘There was this guy that went to prison. I should just go home.'”

Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson said he has spoken regularly with Jamie Billquist regarding a resolution. He said both were comfortable with a prison sentence of 1-4 years with a condition that Jadlowski accept responsibility.

“This was not an intentional homicide,” Swanson said. “It evinced horrible judgement, but it was not intentional. Acceptance of responsibility for your criminal mistakes is an important part of this process. While it won’t bring back Rosie it brought closure in this case and peace for her family.

“This tragedy serves as a reminder that hunting with guns carries an expansive set of responsibilities, most of which are designed to protect people. Simple rules were not followed by Mr. Jadlowski and because of his actions two families and entire communities have suffered. The ripples of this event are widespread and will last a long time. My hope is that this incident serves as an example to the hunting community of what can happen when basic hunting rules are not followed.

“Guns can, and will cause harm when used without caution and care. These tragedies are preventable,” Swanson continued.

Jadlowski, who is being represented by Fredonia attorney Michael Cerrie, was set to go to trial beginning with jury selection on Oct. 16.

The same manslaughter charge was dismissed in February after Foley ruled the District Attorney’s Office failed to answer the question of a juror on a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.

Jadlowski’s defense asked Foley to review grand jury testimony; the judge in a four-page decision said District Attorney Patrick Swanson had a responsibility to answer the juror’s question.