Father In Toms River Shooting Case Not Expected In Court [AUDIO]

The father of the four-year-old Toms River boy, who fatally shot his six-year-old friend last month while they were playing outside, was expected in court today, but according to his attorney, he will likely not be there.

During a press conference yesterday morning outside his Downtown Toms River law practice, Attorney Robert Ebberup read a prepared statement about the case and explained how his client, 33-year-old Anthony Senatore, signed a wavier of appearance so he doesn't have to actually be present during the first hearing of the case.

In the statement, it read there's not a day that goes by that Senatore doesn't feel pain and sorrow for what happened in April.

"While we did not know him in life, we have come to learn how amazing little Brandon Holt was," read Ebberup.

In the statement, Ebberup accuses the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office of grandstanding, which he feels could prevent Senatore from having a fair trial.

Ebberup says the Prosecutor's office created a "spectacle" in arresting Senatore at his Bayville home in front of his wife and children without warning, as they ate dinner, after Senatore fully cooperated with the investigation. Ebberup says his client would have surrendered at the location of the Prosecutor's choice.

Senatore has waived his initial appearance in Toms River municipal court scheduled for Thursday, although Ebberup will still meet with a judge. Senatore was taken into custody Monday evening from a Bayville residence and posted $100,000 bail and was released from the Ocean County Jail.

Senatore is being charged with five counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of children and one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child.

On Monday, April 8, Senatore's 4-year-old son gained access to an unsecured .22 caliber rifle in Senatore's bedroom, took the gun outside of and fired a single shot, which struck 6-year-old neighbor, Brandon Holt, in the head. Holt was transported to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead the next day.

Senatore could face a lengthy jail sentence if convicted.