LAKE HAVASU CITY — A U.S. Navy veteran has been sentenced to prison for two years for conducting a military exercise in the presence of family members at their home in Lake Havasu City. David Denney, 37, will spend five years on probation upon his release from prison.
Denney was sentenced by Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle during a September 24 hearing at the Law and Justice Center in Kingman.
That Denney was dressed in combat gear including a tactical vest and pistol gun belt and armed with an AR-15 when he engaged in a home-clearing drill was described as bizarre behavior by deputy Mohave County attorney James Schoppmann. He said video showed that Denney pointed the rifle at his estranged wife and their two children during portions of the drill conducted within their home in the 3000 block of Arabian Circle.
No one was hurt, but the divorcing wife told police that the house sweeping exercise prompted concern for the safety of herself, as well as their 5-five-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter.
Defense attorney Marcus Spradlin said “underlying mental health issues” stemming from combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder motivated Denney’s involvement in the closed quarters combat house clearing drill.
“I want to apologize to my family, especially my children,” Denney told the Court. He was convicted of child abuse and disorderly conduct through a plea agreement.
