Clearfield man who shot himself in leg during argument sentenced to prison | Crime

CLEARFIELD — Brandon Edward Hutson Sr., 34, of Clearfield, who allegedly shot himself in the foot while discharging a firearm during a domestic dispute with a woman, was sentenced to prison this week by Presiding Judge Fredric J. Ammerman of the Special Sentencing Court. .

Hutson pleaded guilty to aggravated assault – second degree felony, person not possessing firearm – first degree misdemeanor, two counts of recklessly endangering another person – second degree misdemeanor and possession of paraphernalia drug-related. He would serve at least two years in state prison, according to Assistant District Attorney Brittany McCracken.

Hutson's court-appointed attorney, Joe Ryan of Reynoldsville, said Hutson had problems with alcohol addiction since he was 11 and was looking forward to going to state prison to resolve his addiction problem. But he asked Ammerman to give him a maximum of four years and no more.

Ammerman sentenced Hutson to serve a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years in state prison.

According to the probable cause affidavit, early Sunday morning, February 4, the Clearfield Regional Police Department responded to the Penn Highlands Clearfield emergency room for a report that a male patient was being combative.

When Hutson arrived, he was sitting on a hospital bed with blood pouring from his right leg, above the ankle. As soon as police made contact with him, Hutson became hostile and began filming police with his cell phone.

Hutson asked if he was being arrested and police told him he was being arrested for disorderly conduct. Hutson then became extremely hostile toward police and did not answer any questions about what happened to him or who shot him in the leg.

Hutson then got out of bed, stood in a corner and began complaining about being arrested. He then challenged the police to come and get him.

The officers grabbed Hutson by the arms, but he immediately resisted and tried to free his hands.

Hutson was restrained and placed on a hospital bed where he continued to resist, but was restrained by police. He then began to calm down and the police asked him again what had happened. Hutson said he tried to buy marijuana from two Jamaicans and one of them shot him in the leg. He said he didn't know them, but one of them was called “Cisco.”

When asked where it happened, he said it happened in the alley near Mary's Bar.

Police went to Hutson's apartment and spoke to Hutson's girlfriend, who also lives in the apartment. She said Hutson left the apartment and returned injured. She said Hutson told her he may have pricked himself with something. She then took him to the hospital for treatment.

Police made contact with the resident of the apartment located on the ground floor of Hutson's. The resident said he heard what sounded like a gunshot in Hutson's apartment, but he wasn't sure. The neighbor said he often heard Hutson and his girlfriend arguing.

Police spoke with Hutson's girlfriend again and she said she and Hutson were arguing. She said she was in the bathroom and as she came out she heard a gunshot. She said she yelled at Hutson and asked him, “What are you doing?”

She said he responded that he accidentally shot himself in the foot. The girlfriend allowed police to search the apartment and showed them where the shooting happened. Police found a blood spatter and a hole in the floor.

Marijuana was also found on the dresser alongside some drug paraphernalia. The police asked the downstairs neighbor if he could search the apartment and they agreed.

Police found a 9mm bullet had passed through the floor and ceiling, through the kitchen window curtains and hitting the banister before falling to the ground. There were two young children in the room next to where the bullet went through the ceiling.

Police were able to recover the bullet and put it into evidence.

Hutson's girlfriend also gave police the gun Hutson used and told them where several other guns were located in the apartment. She said all the guns belonged to her, but Hutson had access to them.

She showed police the 9mm pistol Hutson kept under the mattress and said that was the weapon he used. Police found the gun loaded with a bullet in the chamber, with one bullet missing.

A spent shell casing was also found under the bed.

Police also found 500 rounds of ammunition on stripping pliers as well as loaded magazines for a rifle found in the apartment.

Hutson is not allowed to possess a firearm because he is a former felon, according to police.