White Cloud man pleads ‘no contest’ to discharging rifle in girlfriend’s home.

Heddon appears in court Monday, April 26, via Zoom video conferencing.

White Cloud man pleads ‘no contest’ to discharging rifle in girlfriend’s home.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — A 52-year-old White Cloud man will serve up to a year in jail after pleading “no contest” to a felony of discharging weapons/firearms in or at a building in 27th Circuit Court Monday, April 26.

Robert Allen Heddon, of 5760 N. Woodbridge Rd., was arrested by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office after the incident and initially faced two other felony charges of malicious destruction of personal property $1,000-$20,000, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, and felony firearm, which carries a two-year maximum. Those charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.

The maximum possible sentence for discharging weapons/firearms in or at a building is 10 years.

His now ex-girlfriend was able to escape the home located in the Village of Hesperia before the shots were fired, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon.

Judge Bradley G. Lambrix said the offense involved “multiple shots fired within the context of that dwelling. One shot was fired across a bedframe and into a wooden panel; into the siding; and into a bench. Three or four rounds were fired.”

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 10-23 months. Heddon’s jail time will not exceed one year, and restitution will be ordered.

“PA 395 of 2020 — the justice reform package — mandates that such guidelines receive no more than a 12-month sentence,” said Bizon. 

Sentencing is set for June 21 at 9:15 a.m.

Heddon and his attorney Julie Springstead-Waltz appeared in court via Zoom video conferencing due to COVID-19.

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