LAKE HAVASU CITY – A Lake Havasu City teenager will serve some jail time but avoids a prison sentence for gunfire following a dispute at a house party attended by young adults and teenagers. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Megan McCoy placed Bradley Delaney, 18, on probation for five years during an October 24 sentencing hearing in Kingman.
Defense attorney Brad Rideout said a television was broken when Delaney fell during some rough housing at the June 29 house party in the 3000 block of Tomahawk Drive. Rideout said Delaney was taken into a laundry room where he was “slapped around” and directed to make immediate payment for the broken TV.
Rideout said Delaney has impulsivity issues that explain why he exited the residence and returned after retrieving a handgun and fired it into the ground, causing ricochets that resulted in non-life-threatening injuries for two young males.
“His intent was to scare not to hurt,” Rideout told the court.
“I was in fear for my life,” Delaney said. “I did not know what was going to happen.”
Judge McCoy expressed familiarity and previous experience with Delaney, referencing prior involvement in juvenile court. She scolded the defendant for returning with a weapon when he should have just left the party.
“It is not self-defense when you are able to leave safely,” McCoy said. “You chose to go back with a gun. That is terrifying behavior.”
Delaney pleaded guilty to two aggravated assault charges during a September 26 hearing.
Judge McCoy imposed a 180-day jail sentence, crediting Delaney for 117 days already served. He should be released from custody just before Christmas and was ordered to perform 200 hours of community work service while on probation.
