Mount Solon woman convicted of malicious wounding for shooting neighbor

UPDATE (April 30, 2019):

A 68-year-old Mount Solon woman was convicted of malicious wounding in court on Tuesday for shooting her great nephew in the leg.

On April 30, Mary F. Puffenbarger was in Augusta County Circuit Court, where her attorney argued that she was afraid of her great nephew and shot him in self-defense during a dispute in the 100 block of Dividing Ridge Road last April.

The Commonwealth's Attorney argued there had been a poor relationship between Puffenbarger and her great nephew, who was also her neighbor, for a while and the intent behind her actions was clear.

Chris Huffer, Puffenbarger's neighbor and great nephew, told the court that on that day in April, he was looking for his dog. He had a conversation with Puffenbarger that evening, and he said words were exchanged. Martin described it as an "unpleasant conversation."

During her testimony, Puffenbarger said Huffer threatened her during the conversation, and she was afraid. She then went back inside the house. Huffer told the court that he did not threaten her during that conversation, but he said Puffenbarger said it was her right to shoot the dog if it was on her property.

Martin said that Huffer called law enforcement for advice on what to do about the missing dog, and said law enforcement advised Huffer that he could knock on her door.

Huffer and his daughter went back to Puffenbarger's house, and Huffer said they called for the dog. He said he did not realize Puffenbarger was outside until he heard her yell to get off her property.

Both Huffer and his daughter said Puffenbarger did not give them any time to leave before she shot Huffer in the leg.

During her testimony, Puffenbarger said she had the gun because she had seen a ground hog in her yard earlier, and was going to wait for it. She said when she came around to the front of her house, she said she saw Huffer in her yard with his daughter. Puffenbarger said Huffer approached her, and she shot at his feet in a warning.

Her attorney, Jessica Sherman-Stoltz, asked Puffenbarger several times about how she felt when talking to Huffer earlier, and argued that Puffenbarger shot out of self-defense. Sherman-Stoltz said in her closing that the commonwealth had not rpoven beyond a reasonable doubt that Puffenbarger fired the gun out of malice.

Both Martin and Sherman-Stoltz talked about the 911 call Puffenbarger made after the shooting. Martin described her as being calm and matter of fact as she talked about what happened.

Sherman-Stoltz brought up that Puffenbarger said she was scared during the 911 call, and that Huffer had threatened her previously.

Ultimately, the judge said it was not reasonable for her to use a gun to defend herself because the 40-year-old man was unarmed.

He was taken to Augusta Health for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg.

Puffenbarger will face sentencing on August 13 at 9 a.m.

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UPDATE (Sep. 25, 2018):

A 68-year-old Augusta County woman has been indicted for allegedly shooting a man in Mount Solon this past April.

Mary F. Puffenbarger was accused of shooting a 40-year-old man in the leg after a neighborhood dispute in the 100 block of Dividing Ridge Road back in April.

This week, a grand jury indicted her on one count of malicious shooting and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

She will face trial on January 9, 2019.

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The Augusta County Sheriff's Office says a woman is in custody after a shooting in Mount Solon Thursday night.

Officials say they responded to a residence in the 100 block of Dividing Ridge Road around 6:30 Thursday night after a report of a shooting. Early investigations show it stemmed from a neighborhood dispute.

They say they found a 40-year-old man who had been shot in the leg by a neighbor. He was transported to Augusta Health, where he is being treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

Investigators say Mary F. Puffenbarger, a 68-year-old of Mount Solon, was taken into custody without incident. She was charged with shooting with intent to maim, kill and use or display of a firearm while committing a felony.

She appeared before a magistrate and is now being held without bond, pending an initial court appearance in Augusta County General District Court.

If you have any information about this investigation, you are asked to contact the Augusta County Sheriff's Office at (540) 245-5333 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-2017.