HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The jury in the case against an 81-year-old woman who was arrested at her home in the county after she allegedly fired a gun when two animal control officers came to her residence reached a mixed verdict.
Cora Jackson was found guilty of one count of criminal threat and interference with law enforcement, but not guilty of two counts of aggravated assault.
She was found guilty of communicating a threat of violence against two officers who responded to the area over a complaint about a dog.
It was around 6:15 p.m. on July 29, 2015 when Reno County Sheriff deputies responded to the 4500 block of East G for a report of an armed individual threatening the animal control officers.
Animal Control officers were at the residence to catch a stray dog that had bitten a driver for R-CAT on the hand earlier in the day. Officers stated that Jackson was initially cooperative with them even signing a form so they could take the dog. They claim that at some point, she became highly irritated and made several threats toward the animal control officers at which point they called Sheriff officers to the scene.
Jackson allegedly went into her residence and came back out with a 22-caliber semi-auto handgun. Officers took cover and she allegedly fired one round from the handgun. Other deputies arrived on scene as the shot was fired. After repeated demands to drop the weapon, she complied and was taken into custody.
On the stand, Jackson denied that it happened the way the state claims. She says they were two animal control officers were not in uniform and she initially didn’t know who they were. She says she did fire her gun in the ground, but that they were no where around. She also denied making any threats toward anyone.
The jury agreed the she didn’t threaten anyone with the gun.
Judge Tim Chambers set sentencing for May 20.