Woman who pointed handgun at kids earns fine and two years probation

A Spirit Lake woman who threatened four teenagers with a handgun was sentenced Monday to two years on supervised probation as part of a three-year suspended prison sentence.

Prosecutors asked that Deanna L. Hughes, 47, not be considered for a withheld judgment — which would allow her conviction to be erased if she successfully completes the terms of her probation — despite not having a criminal record.

Deputy prosecutor Rebecca Perez said Hughes, who was convicted by a jury, did not take responsibility for her crime.

Perez asked First District Judge Scott Wayman to send Hughes to jail for 30 days as punishment.

“(She) is legally qualified for a withheld judgment, but that is for someone who has fully accepted responsibility for what has happened,” Perez said.

Perez said Hughes’ hedged in her testimony to the jury and didn’t take accountability.

“A lot of it was ridiculous,” Perez said.

The teenagers who ranged in age between 15 and 16 years old were traumatized by the event, Perez told the court.

“There were … kids hanging out and then had a gun pulled on them,” Perez said. “They thought they were going to die. Many of them had tears in their eyes.”

According to police reports, Hughes visited a teenage party at a private residence south of Spirit Lake after a teenager said he had a gun pointed at him.

Witnesses said no one pointed an airsoft rifle — the “gun” in question — at anyone during the party and that Hughes overreacted. She drove to the residence with her 9mm P85 Ruger pistol and threatened the teenagers.

Hughes was initially charged with four felony counts of aggravated assault, but the charges were reduced to one count of displaying a deadly weapon, and another count of aggravated assault. A jury found her guilty.

Wayman said Hughes was well respected, a professional who has support from her peers. The situation was unusual, he said.

“This is common (behavior) for someone who has a mental health issue, or a substance abuse issue, but that’s not your case” Wayman said. “It is very concerning that someone would acquire a firearm and then go directly to the event … You got upset … and that is a very dangerous thing to do.”

As part of the sentence Wayman imposed $5,300 in fines and fees, but refused to send Hughes back to jail.

“The $5,000 fine is meant to hurt, and should be painful,” Wayman said.