Man gets suspended sentence for second-degree assault

January 27, 2000|By MARLO BARNHART

A Hagerstown man who pointed a gun at a trucker in a dispute over a parking space last summer was given a 3-year suspended prison sentence Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court.

Richard Lee Vance, 53, of 20042 Jefferson Blvd., pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and transporting a handgun.

"Did you get angry and want to show off?" asked Circuit Judge Donald Beachley.

"Yes, I did," Vance said.

"That's not a good example for your kids," Beachley said.

Vance agreed. "I regret the entire incident happened," Vance said Thursday.

Around midnight on June 12, Vance was parked near Virginia Avenue and Cemetery Lane when a tractor-trailer driver asked him to move so he could park his truck, according to Washington County Sheriff's deputies.

Angered by the request, Vance retrieved a .357-magnum Smith and Wesson revolver from his vehicle and pointed it at the trucker, deputies said.

Armed with a description of a vehicle and the license plate number, deputies went to Vance's home and found him there in his car with the gun on the seat.

"The victim asked that Vance not be allowed to buy another handgun," said Assistant Washington County State's Attorney Arthur Rozes.

Beachley said while he usually gives jail time for handgun offenses, the victim didn't want Vance to serve time.

In addition to the 3-year suspended sentence for the assault, Beachley imposed a concurrent 18-month suspended sentence for the gun charge.

A total fine of $500 was levied along with $495 in court costs.

Vance was ordered to forfeit the gun he had that night, to own no weapons for three years and to attend an anger management program.

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