"I believe this was a one-time incident brought on because of his inebriation," Howell said. "Alcohol is the major problem in Robert's life, and I think treatment needs to be a part of whatever sentence is imposed."

Bosserman has shoplifting and auto burglary charges on his criminal history.

"We'd ask the court to give him a little bit of room to work here," Howell said, "to try and redeem himself as much as he can through the jail and through probation rather than just putting him in prison."

Finch said there had been concerns about retaliation between the two neighboring families over the incident, which Bosserman's mother, Michelle, vowed would stop Tuesday.

"As far as I'm concerned, since we are neighbors, that this ends here today," Michelle Bosserman said. "(There will be) no retaliation on my or my family's part. I feel that for the sake of our neighborhood, the peace it needs to have and the children there, that (this) needs to end today."

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