LAKE HAVASU CITY – A Lake Havasu City woman’s pursuit of probation for a violent, firearm-involved encounter with a former boyfriend was dashed by a judge who imposed prison instead.
Candace Spohn, 41, appeared before Judge Billy Sipe at a Monday sentencing hearing. She previously pleaded guilty to a reduced attempted assault charge.
There’s no dispute that Spohn was upset when she and another man drove to her former boyfriend’s home in the 2300 block of Angler Drive on Dec. 11, 2023.
Judge Sipe noted that it is alleged that Spohn was armed and pointed the handgun at him when her ex opened the front door. Defense attorney Brad Rideout countered that Spohn only became armed when the man came outside with a baseball bat.
Despite that distinction, Judge Sipe said it was clear that Spohn discharged the weapon in the vicinity of the victim and another woman. He said it is fortunate that no one was struck or hurt by a bullet that lodged in a structure.
Rideout said Spohn never intended to shoot anyone and fired in an effort “to dispel,” or calm the situation. He and the judge said her ex-boyfriend was apparently serious injured when struck in the head by the firearm.
Spohn said she lost her job and her residence over the incident. But she also said she secured a better job, is doing well in counseling and is committed to working and raising her 19-year-old son.
Judge Sipe said engaging in an armed confrontation is not the path to probation.
“Your conduct Miss Spohn is really alarming to the court,” he said. “This is conduct that is just too serious for me to consider supervised probation.”
Judge Sipe imposed a 2.5-year prison sentence, maximum punishment under terms of the plea deal.
Dave Hawkins
