Friend being prosecuted for threatening people with gun on his own property

He noticed there were two strange men in his backyard. He grabbed his gun and went out and confronted them. They were utility workers. Utility workers have the right to enter private property so that they can do things like check an electric or gas meter and make repairs. Now he's facing up to ten years behind bars if convicted. What would you have done in that situation? Would you have jumped to the conclusion that they were intruders?

 

Simply carrying a gun openly on your property isn't a crime, so there's probably more to the story - likely it depends on the specifics of the "confrontation".

 

I would think it would be easy to tell utility workers from bangers or the neighborhood scum. Either way, running out and sticking a barrel in their faces is a bit rabid. Stick the gun in your pocket or hold it behind you and allow a normal process of escalation to take place.

 

did he point a gun at utility workers, working on a gas or electric line?

that's called "menacing". Yes, it is a crime.

 

I suspect this incident exists only in the fertile imagination of a person who hates guns and is grasping at straws.

 

I wouldn't go out with a gun. If you don't know, call the cops.

For me, CA doesn't authorize deadly force to protect property.

 

Likely so.
Indeed, if Trump does what he says he is going to do, and continues to do so through a 2nd term, it could set the liberal gun control agenda back 2 generations - if not more.

 

It's for incidents like these that I depend upon the 110 pounds of Rottweiler to keep honest people honest.

 

If this is a real story, he must have assaulted them with his gun for there to have been any real charges filed.

 

Yes, there is more to this account than is told here, there is no Law against questioning People on ones property, there are Laws against menacing and other Antisocial behavior and if the actual charges and testimonies are reviewed, an actual picture of the incident in question will be readily apparent, sounds like something a person might do if they were an Alcoholic or some such thing.

- - - Updated - - -

All it takes is 10 pounds of irate Pome-Iranian type Dog to let you know somebody is doing something.

 

if you see guys who are clearly utility workers working on your land, you bring your gun with you, concealed.

you politely walk up to them, wish them a good morning or good afternoon, and ask what they are up to on YOUR land.

hopefully, they will tell you whats going on. you can then ask why you werent informed about this earlier, and hopefully they will apologize and have someone call you.



but just approach them, guns ablazed, pointing guns at them?

not cool. you should go to prison for a year.

 

And I have never experienced any Utility worker enter Private Property and begin any work without first advising the residents of their intent first, and most Utility workers have a huge conspicuous truck and wear Uniforms and have IDs visible and other signs, so this Guy on the surface of things sounds like a totally Loony Guy, and if you investigate his track record, probably is not the first time he has done something like this.

- - - Updated - - -

Incorrect, there must be a Court trial before anyone goes to Prison MOD EDIT>>>OFF TOPIC<<<.

Nope, Trump Won, and that is that.

 

I had a family of Pome-Iranians that rented the upstairs apartment in my house for a short time and believe me you don't want that. They did everything a renter is not supposed to do.

 

Did the Dogs pay their rent on time ?
Did they pay you in Dog biscuits ?

 

It was Ramadan so I let them slide on it and when I went back to collect later on they'd moved out with no trace.

 

What has he been charged with to face a 10 year prison sentence?

 

Without an actual link to a story, well, you know how that goes.
This story is less than an anecdote.

Just too many missing facts and details.

 

Aggravated assault. I think the trial is supposed to be this month.
link

 

I'll admit I was fishing for validation that the story was true which the link confirms.

In general there isn't enough detail regarding exactly how he approached the workers, what he said and did plus the inconsistency regarding exactly where they were and what information he'd received about the work happening. Based on his attitude and the charge though, it sounds to me that he could well have overreacted and legitimately faces the court case.

 

Happen to be from Utah, just south of there. Absolutely beautiful state I left because of the politics there. My guess is your buddy is screwed should have thought about it and not did it. He will likely loose his gun rights and Utah is one of those states that don't like to restore your rigbts once lost even if you have complied with the court orders. Good luck!

 

That is why utility workers are required to be easily identified by their uniforms.

Your included link to the incident, however, demonstrates behavior that does not constitute law abiding. It also demonstrates why there is a lack of genuine need for additional restrictions on firearms in the united states, as this behavior does not go unpunished when it occurs.

 

NYS Penal code is very clear on matters such as this, Utility workers are not sneaking around and are way too easy to identify big lazy and slow moving, drinking coffee etc and pose ZERO THREAT or Danger, so it takes a minute, you find out they are the Good Guys and you offer them more coffee or cigarettes etc.....

This guy is probably mentally ill in any case

 

To many unknowns to have an informed opinion. In my case, for someone to get into my back yard, they either have to climb over my fence, or break part of it down, so yes, I would have investigated with a firearm in my hand. But in my state, I'm allowed to walk around my own property with a firearm in my hand even absent strangers in a yard that they don't have casual access to. However, their presence in the yard does NOT justify the use of deadly force unless their behavior otherwise does.

 

All you need to do is fence your property in, conspicuously post no entry and no trespassing signs, keep your gates locked, have a few small Pome-Iranian yappy dogs and nobody will get into the Pwecious yard.....
Some people are simply paranoid.

Also, be prudent, no need to threaten Jehovah's witnesses or cable people etc, if there is no immediate threat, call 911, no, this Guy really overreacted.
Probably mentally ill.

Hint, concealed carry.......

 

Nope. I wouldn't have assumed they were intruders. He's sounds like a loon to me.