Son of ‘Barney’ creator faces 15 years in prison for shooting neighbor

The son of the creator of “Barney & Friends” pleaded no contest Thursday to shooting his neighbor in the chest after accusing him of trespassing.

Patrick Kearns Leach is charged with one count each of assault with a firearm and shooting from a vehicle in connection with a 2013 assault, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Leach, 29, of Malibu, also admitted to seriously hurting his neighbor and discharging the firearm.

He is expected to be sentenced June 29 to 15 years in state prison, prosecutors said.

Leach’s neighbor survived the shooting that occurred about 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2013.

Angry at his neighbor, Leach drove onto his property in the 27000 of West Winding Way in Malibu and honked his car horn, prosecutors said.

His neighbor grew curious about the noise outside, so he walked out of his home only to find Leach.

Leach accused him of trespassing, which set off an argument.

At some point during the argument, Leach fired several rounds at his neighbor, striking him once in the chest, prosecutors said.

After the shooting, Leach drove away and was later stopped by law enforcement.

As they approached him, they found that Leach was wearing body armor and was armed with weapons. He was immediately arrested.

Leach is the son of Sheryl Leach, who developed and wrote the popular PBS children’s show about a lovable purple dinosaur.

The singing dinosaur was best known of his song, “I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won’t you say you love me too!”

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