Koester Pleads Guilty; Placed on Probation, Must Write Apology Letter, Reimburse Sheriff's Dept. for Cost of Investigation

The Effingham man who told authorities he'd been shot, but later admitted he'd accidentally shot himself, has pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and was placed on probation.

22-year-old David A. Koester was wounded while exercising his bird dog in the West Evergreen Avenue river bottoms near the TREC Trail last December 19. He was loading a pistol and the gun discharged, striking Koester in the leg. 

However, since his FOID card had been revoked and he was not supposed to be in possession of a weapon, Koester notified 911 that he had been shot. The report led to a search involving the Effingham County Sheriff's Department, Effingham City Police Department, Illinois Secretary of State Police, and Illinois State Police as well as the Illinois State Police Air Operations Unit.

On December 29, during an interview with detectives of the sheriff's department, Koester admitted that he had accidentally wounded himself and no one else was involved.

In court Wednesday, Koester pleaded guilty and was placed on 30 months probation. He must complete 100 hours of public service work, must undergo counseling, must write a letter of apology to the sheriff's department, and must make restitution of $5,000 to the sheriff's department for the expense of the search and investigation. He was also fined $500 plus court costs.

Counts of possession of a firearm while his FOID card is revoked and filing a false 911 complaint were dismissed.