Father acquitted in daughter's sledding death

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - A father accused of vehicular homicide after his 9-year-old daughter was killed as he towed her innertube in the snow was found not guilty Tuesday by a Clark County judge.

Madison Gecho was thrown into a low brick wall and later died at a hospital in January 2007. Her father, Peter Gecho, was giving a group of youngsters rides in the snow, towed by his truck.

Gecho, who could have been sentenced to more than two years in prison, sobbed when the verdict was read by Clark County Superior Court Judge John F. Nichols. Gecho had waived his right to a jury trial.

Nichols said the charges required that Gecho be aware of the risks and consequences of his behavior and act heedlessly with indifference to them.

"I don't think the defendant was aware of the probabilities, and as such, I must find him not guilty," Nichols said.

There was conflicting testimony that about whether Gecho had been drinking, but Nichols said there was no evidence it was a factor.

"This has been a very hard and sad case for everybody," said Gecho's attorney, Thomas C. Phelan. "Peter and Madison had an incredible relationship. He has a hole in his heart that will never be filled. All it was was an accident."