Court hears wife’s chilling account in felonious assault case.

Vreeland listens as his wife addresses the court.

Court hears wife’s chilling account in felonious assault case.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — The victim of a felonious assault provided a chilling account in 51st Circuit Court Monday, Dec. 5, of the abuse she has suffered at the hands of her husband.

Terry Scott Vreeland, 50, of 11646 Old US 31, Montague, pleaded “no contest” last October to felonious assault. Vreeland was also initially charged with two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, which were dismissed.

His wife said she has endured “15 months of living in fear after the assault.” The victim told the court that Vreeland tried to kill her Aug. 27, 2021. 

She said Vreeland told her, “‘One day you will come home; hear a bang; see red; and you’ll be dead.’

“I cannot enjoy the things I once did,” she said. She can no longer enjoy watching sunsets – “he knows all my spots.”

Because she is too terrified to go outside after dark, she had to give up another one of her favorite activities — grilling. “I almost go into a panic.” She also rarely cooks anymore, because she can no longer use knives.

The victim said she was disappointed with Vreeland’s sentence, which included no additional jail time. “This plea doesn’t fit the crime.”

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski sentenced Vreeland to three years probation, which is twice the recommended time frame of 18 months. He received credit for four days served in jail and was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

“We charged the offense that we believed was provable,” said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon. “(Sentencing) guidelines called for a probation sentence,” said Bizon.

Vreeland’s attorney, Julie Springstead Waltz said her client was “in the middle of a mental health episode” at the time of the offense. The attorney said “serious mental health issues” were at play.

“There are other statutes at play,” said Judge Sniegowski regarding the sentence, “and those statutes call for probation.” 

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