Huddles ton man pleads no contest in Amherst Co. death - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

A Huddleston man accused of killing an Amherst County woman in an August shootout pleaded no contest Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm.

Michael Thomas Loboschefski, 30, was initially charged with felony murder, aggravated malicious wounding, maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Loboschefski had previously admitted that the shot that killed 25-year-old Audrey Bryan came from his .22-caliber rifle.

Investigators found about a dozen spent casings from that gun at the scene of the crime, Loboschefski's Johnson Mountain Road home.

Loboschefski has consistently maintained that he shot in self-defense, as another Amherst County man, Josh Hughes, was shooting a shotgun at Loboschefski's home.

Bedford County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Wes Nance and defense counsel Darren Shoen both admitted the testimony in what was expected at one point to be a three-day trial would have been "highly contentious."

Hughes was sentenced last week to a year behind bars for involuntary manslaughter and brandishing a firearm for his role in the shootout.

Loboschefski's sentencing is set for Aug. 21.