Lake Superior Judge Natalie Bokota sentenced a Merrillville woman to four years on probation Tuesday for shooting her wife – after first questioning if the plea deal was too lenient.
Kailan Kree Richards, 30, pleaded guilty in May to domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony.
Defense lawyer Sean Mullins told Bokota the wife was “very intoxicated” and attacked Richards first, though shooting her went “above and beyond what the law calls for.”
It was a “bad situation” but Richards “should have physically left,” he said.
Richards said she was “deeply sorry” for what happened.
Deputy Prosecutor Arturo Balcazar was assigned.
The victim told police they were hanging out late on Sept. 3, 2022, with friends on a boat docked near the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond when Richards was showing off her gun, an affidavit states.
Hours later, they argued on the 1300 block of East 51st Avenue in Gary. The victim alleged Richards hit her three times and she hit Richards back once.
The woman went down the street, then returned for her bag. At that time, Richards took her gun out of a purse. The victim heard a gunshot and realized she was wounded, the affidavit states.
The bullet hit her left thigh, breaking her femur.
mcolias@post-trib.com