McHenry man faces up to 65 years in prison after admitting to killing man during drunken Russian roulette

A McHenry man faces up to 65 years in prison after he admitted to killing a man during a drunken game of Russian roulette.

Robert M. Sterling, 31, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Walworth County Court to first-degree reckless homicide by use of a dangerous weapon, according to court records. He will be sentenced at
9 a.m. Sept. 15.

Sterling was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon days after David Bauspies, 36, of McHenry was found dead Jan. 2 after being shot in an apartment in East Troy, Wisconsin.

East Troy police responded to an apartment about 12:30 p.m. for reports of a gunshot victim. Police said they found Sterling kneeling over Bauspies’ body with a revolver on the floor nearby and blood splattered on the wall, according to court documents.

Police said they interviewed Tyler M. Odell, who lives in the apartment where the incident occurred, and said Bauspies and Sterling were drinking enough beer to get “pretty drunk,” according to court documents. Odell said he took out a .44 Magnum revolver, removed six rounds from the gun and showed it to everyone.

He said he put a round back into the gun and spun the cylinder as Sterling watched. Odell held the gun up to his own head but did not pull the trigger, according to court documents. Odell then handed the gun to Sterling, who spun the cylinder, held the gun to his own head and pulled the trigger, but it did not fire.

Sterling then pointed the gun at Bauspies and pulled the trigger, causing the gun to fire and killing Bauspies, according to court documents.