OCALA, FL – A former Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy was convicted of manslaughter Thursday after a jury rejected his claim that he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the head while cleaning guns at their home.
Leslie Dale Boileau Jr., 33, faces up to 30 years in prison for killing Polina Wright, 25, on September 19, 2024. Jurors deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict on the manslaughter with a firearm charge.
According to prosecutors, Boileau shot Wright with an AR-style rifle during what he described to 911 dispatchers as an accident while they were “pointing guns at each other.” The former deputy claimed the weapon discharged while he was cleaning his firearms, telling investigators he had forgotten he reloaded the rifle.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Boileau’s actions went far beyond negligence. They contended he “intentionally pointed the gun and intentionally pulled the trigger,” making the shooting a criminal act rather than an unfortunate accident.
In a post-Miranda interview with detectives, Boileau admitted his behavior was “sloppy” on the night of the shooting. Defense attorneys attempted to frame the incident as negligence rather than manslaughter, but the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution’s version of events.
The case drew significant attention due to Boileau’s law enforcement background. As a trained deputy, he would have received extensive firearms safety training, including the fundamental rule of never pointing a weapon at another person unless intending to use deadly force.
Investigators found inconsistencies in Boileau’s account of the incident. His claim that he was cleaning guns while simultaneously pointing loaded weapons raises questions about what actually transpired in the moments before Wright’s death.
The shooting occurred at the couple’s residence, where first responders found Wright suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Despite emergency medical treatment, she died from her injuries.
Following the guilty verdict, the judge remanded Boileau to jail to await sentencing. The former deputy, who had been free on bond during the trial, was taken into custody immediately after the jury’s decision was read.
Sentencing is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Under Florida law, manslaughter with a firearm carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in state prison, though the actual sentence will be determined by the judge based on sentencing guidelines and aggravating or mitigating factors.
