LAKE HAVASU CITY – A Lake Havasu City man has avoided further jail time for brandishing a firearm during an encounter with his ex-wife and another man. 74-year-old Gregory McDougall pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct involving a weapon for a Nov. 16, 2025 incident at a residence in the 2500 block of Pebble Beach Loop.
Defense attorney Daniel Christian said a failed marriage and associated emotional and financial impacts played a role in the confrontation during which no one was injured. And the defiant defendant maintains he retrieved the weapon in self-defense given the threat of a much larger adversary.
“I wish I wouldn’t have done what I did, but he outweighed me by 100 lbs … He came at me,” McDougall said at his Feb. 9 sentencing hearing in Kingman. “I felt I had a right to protect myself … I’m asking for leniency. I’m not a violent person. I’m not.”
Character witnesses including Symphonic Winds Concert Band President Stephen Sinkey supported McDougall’s claims.
“He’s a mild mannered, kind guy,” Sinkey said, noting that McDougall played saxophone and served as a concert band board member. “I was so surprised when I heard there was an altercation.”
Jerry Aldridge called McDougall a good man and told the court he is certain McDougall would never have involved a firearm unless he was fearful in the moment.
Carlisle blamed McDougall for instigating the incident by driving to the residence to engage his ex-wife and the other victim. He said the other man would not have shouted insults at him and there would have been no confrontation were it not for the drive.
Judge Carlisle credited McDougall for no previous criminal history and he placed him on probation for two years. He ordered a four-day jail sentence and credited him with 4 days already served.
Dave Hawkins
