(Woodland, CA) – May 24, 2019 – James Curtis Sled, 59, of West Sacramento, was convicted by a Yolo County jury on May 23, 2019, of Attempted Criminal Threats to Commit Crime Resulting in Death or Great Bodily Injury and an enhancement for Use of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony.
On February 12, 2019, Sled woke and began to verbally abuse his wife, the victim, by calling her derogatory and offensive names. He began to throw things around their home and tear up personal photos. After this, he went to the master bedroom where he retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun. He returned to the living room where he had been verbally attacking the victim and removed the gun from its case. He told the victim “I’m just going to kill you now,” and pointed the gun twelve inches from her face. The victim, fearing for her safety, pushed the barrel of the gun away, but Sled pointed it at her face a second time. The victim pushed the gun away a second time and Sled then said he could kill her by hitting her with the stock of the gun. Eventually, Sled put the gun down. The victim took the gun and put it in her car. She returned to the home out of fear that Sled would destroy her possessions and said she was going to call the police. She dialed 911, but Sled angrily told her to hang up, which she did. 911 called back, but Sled told her not to answer. Due to the hang up and non-answer, officers with the West Sacramento Police Department responded to the home. After a 30 minute standoff with officers, Sled was arrested and taken into custody.
Sled will be sentenced on June 20, 2019, in front of the Honorable David Rosenberg, who presided over the trial. Sled faces a maximum of 11 years, 6 months in state prison.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig stated, “Domestic violence is a scourge on our society. No one should be made to fear that their life is in danger and never should a gun be used as a tool to try to make someone believe that.”
This case was investigated by the West Sacramento Police Department.
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