LOGAN — A 39-year-old Nibley woman has confessed to shooting at her boyfriend during a dispute a year ago. Katherine Martin was emotional as she accepted a plea deal to lesser charges that will keep her from going to prison.
Martin appeared Wednesday, May 22, in Logan’s 1st District Court. She waived her right to a trial and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, amended to a third-degree felony; and two counts of felony discharge of a firearm, also third-degree felonies.
In exchange for Martin’s plea, prosecutors dismissed six remaining charges. They also will not recommend a prison term and suggest any sentence on the guilty charges be served concurrently.
According to law enforcement, the victim called 911 on May 28, 2023, reporting that his girlfriend, later identified as Martin, had a gun and shot at him three times while he was outside trimming trees. The man said the woman and her 10-year-old son were inside the home in Nibley.
Cache County Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene reported finding three “recently fired” 9mm shell casings on the driveway within 8 feet of each other. They also observed a round hole in the front of an old camp trailer near the top of the camper, the hole had fresh splinters and appeared to be recently made.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Cache County deputy attorney Griffin Hazard said Martin and the victim had been in an argument just prior to the incident. Shortly after the man went outside, Martin came out brandishing the gun and firing three shots in the man’s direction but not hitting him.
Martin was visibly emotional as she stood with her attorney, Cameron Cox, before Judge Brian Cannell. She was crying as Hazard relayed the facts of the case.
Judge Cannell told Martin, “I have no intention to send you to prison.” He ordered her to complete a presentence report and appear for sentencing July 10.