The father of Charley A. Hodges faced his son’s killer Wednesday in the Polk County Courthouse. Hodges, 29, was shot to death seven months earlier in Wallace Marine Park while trying to protect a friend from gunfire His father stood across from the gunman at a sentencing hearing, his voice quivering with grief. “I could go on and on about what could have been, as far as future memories. That would take too long,” the father said.  Arlie C. Thompson, 24, of Salem, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Polk County Circuit Court to first-degree manslaughter, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree assault. Polk County Circuit Judge Norman Hill sentenced Thompson to 25 years in prison, with three years of post-prison supervision, according to state court records. He can receive credit for time served. Thompson wrote in his plea petition that he killed Hodges, 29, on April 4 “recklessly, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”  Prosecutors dropped other charges including second-degree murder and attempted murder as part of his plea deal. The sentence was based on an agreement between Thompson’s attorneys and Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton’s office. “This was a senseless, senseless act,” Felton said at the hearing. Wallace Park gunman stormed tent camp over lost pistol before deadly shooting After a night of drinking at the West Salem park, Thompson and a friend passed out on the bank of the Willamette River. They later woke up to find a bag they had with weapons inside was missing, according to a Salem Police Department affidavit at the time. Thompson went to his northeast Salem home and returned to the park’s large homeless encampment around 3 a.m. the next morning. He ordered a 25-year-old man out of his tent and held a pistol to his head, resulting in the conviction for kidnapping. Hodges, who also had a shotgun slung over his neck, told the man that someone had stolen his belongings, and he wanted them back. The affidavit said he threatened to kill residents of the camp. Thompson “marched him around the camp, searching through the tents,” according to the report. The kidnapped man was cooperative and tried to help the suspect find the gun.  Hodges, who was later killed, also spoke to the suspect but did so “more aggressively.” He told the suspect to stop being disrespectful. Witnesses told police they tried to de-escalate the gunman before Hodges shouted something to the effect of, “You threatened my family, now I have to kill you.” Hodges then charged Thompson holding a knife in each hand and thrust one toward his abdomen, according to the report. One witness also saw the kidnapped man charge the gunman. Thompson backed into berry bushes and threatened to shoot before gunning down both men. Hodges fell and did not get back up. The other man suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder. The deadly episode shattered the community of homeless people who stay in an unmanaged camp at the park. Just over 12 hours after the shooting, a SWAT team searched Thompson’s home in Hayesville and arrested him. A shooting left Hodges dead and another man wounded in the north side of Wallace Marine Park around 3 a.m. on Thursday, April 4 (Google Maps) Felton said that Hodges was trying to protect the kidnapping victim when he was gunned down during the melee. Thompson, reading from a letter he had written, apologized to Hodges’ family. He said no father should have to bury his own son. “No family should have to undergo such suffering and turmoil,” he said. “If I hadn’t gone back there (on) that fateful night and did what I had done, your boy, Charley, would still reside with us today. His death solely rests in my hands. The blood guilt of what I have done will forever rest upon my head.” Thompson said he would not ask for forgiveness because even if Hodges’ father forgave him, it would not bring his son back. “I’m so, so sorry,” he said. “My heart is filled with sorrow, knowing what pain I have caused, knowing your family will never be whole, knowing I can never fix what I have done. Again, I am so sorry from the depths of my soul. I cannot find the words to convey my guilt and remorse.” Thompson had no previous criminal history. His defense attorney, Scott Howell, said his Thompson will do his best to better himself while in prison. “A series of poor decisions that evening led to tragedy that can’t be undone,” Howell said at the hearing. Hodges’ father said he hoped that Thompson spends some time in solitary confinement so that he is alone with his thoughts. He also said he hopes he can forgive Thompson by the time he is released. “My family’s not the only victim here,” he said. “You’ve hurt your own severely as well.” RELATED COVERAGE: Wallace Park gunman stormed tent camp over lost pistol before deadly shooting Salem man arrested for Wallace Marine Park shooting after SWAT search Deadly shooting devastates homeless community at Wallace Marine Park; details remain slim No arrests after Wallace Marine Park confrontation ends in fatal shooting UPDATE: 1 man dead, another wounded in early morning shooting at Wallace Marine Park Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. 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