“We believe that … this sends a message to everybody that you are not above the law, even if you practiced law for over 30 years. “We don’t want to set a standard that allows other individuals to say, ‘Oh, you know what? A very prominent businessman was able to fire a weapon and he didn’t serve any jail. “We cannot set a standard in which an individual fires a weapon at a loved one in the home with children present and (say) jail’s not appropriate. Hughes and defense attorney Douglas Terry argued against any jail time, noting Hughes is unlikely to commit more crimes and that state probation officers thought he “would be the most boring person (they) could do probation (for)” as long as he’s on appropriate medication.ĭeputy County Attorney Zachary Weiland, representing the prosecution, argued for a year in jail that he said would send a message to the community about the gravity of the crime and avoid the appearance of preferential treatment for a long-respected local businessman. Hughes must also serve 120 days of home confinement wearing an ankle monitor as part of the penalty for the June 2015 incident that has the appearance of a made-for-TV crime story.īrady noted in his sentencing comments that he had weighed Hughes’ advanced age and illnesses as well as Hughes’ lack of prior criminal history against Hughes’ acknowledgement he had shot at his now-ex-wife after suffering paranoia he blamed on the adverse combination of sleep aids and anxiety medication he was taking by prescription. Michael Dean Hughes, 69, will serve a week in jail followed by a week of freedom, followed by another week in jail, another week of freedom, and so on until his incarceration is completed, Judge James Brady ruled during the court event Wednesday. George attorney who pleaded guilty last month to shooting at his wife during a middle-of-the-night incident was sentenced Wednesday to serve four weeks in the Purgatory Correctional Facility as part of a probation term.

Four-Four-Two by Dean Hughes