Gun-toter guilty of assault

May 25, 2000

A man who pulled a gun during a Christmas Eve argument in the Barracuda Surf Bar parking lot was found guilty of second-degree assault and carrying a handgun Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court.

Shane W. Spiegle, 28, of Laurel, Md., will remain free on $10,000 bond pending sentencing. A first-degree assault charge was dropped in exchange for the plea.

Deputy Washington County State's Attorney Charles Strong said the Dec. 24 incident occurred at 1:32 a.m. when security guards saw two men fighting on the ground in the parking lot.

The security guards approached the two men and saw a gun on the ground nearby. The guards gave the gun to Hagerstown City Police.

The victim told police that an intoxicated Spiegle approached him as he sat in his car and began "talking trash'' about the vehicle, Strong said. An argument began and Spiegle pulled a gun from his waistband.

The victim got out of his vehicle, a fight began and the gun was knocked to the ground.

Strong said police identified the gun as a 9 mm semiautomatic with four rounds, including one in the chamber.

"He doesn't know what happened that night," said defense attorney John Salvatore. "But he doesn't dispute it."

Salvatore said Spiegle hasn't had a drink since Dec. 24 and has been in treatment in Laurel.

Judge John H. McDowell ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

- Marlo Barnhart

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