Photo: MNPD
A woman from Nashville who shot and injured a homeless man in 2017 will not spend any time in jail.
She willspend her probationin her home state of Texas, Nashville’s WKRN added. Her lawyer’s request for judicial diversion was denied.
Quackenbush’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
During the sentencing hearing, a tearfulQuackenbush said she wished she hadn’t shot Gerald Meltonafter their heated exchange.
The then 54-year-old victim has since undergone three surgeries due to his injuries,according toThe Tennessean.
She said she has been ridiculed and punished via the criticism she received after her mugshot surfaced and spread online. She testified that she was once spat on and has received death threats, the outlet reports.
“For five years, I’ve been having to live with this … social punishment. Even after all of this is over, Google is always going to be there. This will follow me for the rest of my life.”
The mother of four added, according to the publication, that she hoped to avoid jail time so she would not be separated from her young children.
Speaking on how the incident has changed her, she said she atoned for her past actions and hopes to become a lawyer one day.
“This has inspired me to do better,” she told the judge,The Tennesseanreported. “It inspired me to help people who have been in my shoes.”
Police said Melton asked Quackenbush to move the vehicle and an argument ensued.
As their verbal quarrel continued, Melton began walking back to the sidewalk to sleep whenQuackenbush allegedly got out of the Porsche armed,fired two shots at him and then fled, police said in their statement.
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A jury found Quackenbushguilty of reckless endangermentin April. The Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum jail time sentence of 11 months and 29 days, according to News Channel 5 in Nashville. The fine also can’t exceed $2,500. She was initially indicted on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
source: people.com
