20-year-old takes plea deal in cannon death

A 20-year-old man this week took a plea deal in a case where his friend was killed after a homemade cannon packed with gunpowder exploded during an illegal fireworks display on July 4.

Defense attorney Ross Goodman said his client, Andrew Molitor, entered an Alford plea to reckless disregard of person or property in Las Vegas justice court on Monday. The Alford plea means Molitor didn't admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors could prove their case against him.

Molitor originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony, which was then upgraded to second-degree murder in the death of Kasey Barlow.

After entering the plea, Molitor was sentenced to three years' probation, ordered to pay medical bills and to give $5,000 toward a scholarship fund set up in Barlow's name, Goodman said.

Barlow, 22, was photographing the cannon when it exploded and two metal fragments hit him in the chest, according to court documents. He died at University Medical Center. Three other bystanders received minor shrapnel wounds, two requiring medical care.

Molitor told investigators the cannon was the finale of the evening's fireworks display at his home in the 6000 block of Pooh Corner Court, near Bonanza Road and Sloan Lane.