The triggerman in a Christmas Day home invasion was ordered last week to serve 60 days in jail.
Jordan Hankins, 25, of Cortez, received the sentence on Thursday, Sept. 4, after pleading guilty to felony menacing with a weapon and misdemeanor reckless endangerment charges. Inside the victim’s South Maple Street residence, Hankins reportedly held the victim at gunpoint and fired a single round over a disputed pair of sunglasses on Dec. 25, 2013.
“Mr. Hankins’ impulse control needs to be tempered with 60 days in jail, the maximum allowed,” said District Attorney Will Furse.
The incident was the third weapons-related offense connected to the defendant, said Furse, adding that Hankins burglarized the victim’s home in a “vigilante attempt” on Christmas Day.
“This is exceptionally alarming,” said Furse.
Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker agreed, barring Hankins from possession of any firearm during an imposed 24-month deferred judgment and sentence.
If Hankins successfully completes his two years of supervised probation, which includes random drug and alcohol testing, the felony charge could be dismissed.
In open court, Hankins apologized for the incident, saying that he acted impulsively while under the influence of alcohol.
“I handled the whole situation very wrong,” Hankins told the court.
“It’s clear you have a problem with alcohol,” Walker replied.
Despite his client’s guilty plea, defense attorney Kelly McCabe said he “heavily disputed” substantial facts in the case, but added his client did make “poor choices.”
“My client has problems with impulse control,” McCabe said.
Furse said he was displeased that Hankins maintained that he was not culpable for brandishing the firearm on the night in question, adding that the level of violence connected to the defendant’s alcohol-fueled criminal history had continuously escalated.
“This is the last-second chance,” Furse told Hankins.
A co-defendant was previously convicted on similar charges for his involvement in the case.
Man gets probation in credit card scheme
After racking up nearly $11,000 in gasoline charges on a stolen company credit card, a Cortez man was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation last week.
Shaun Gallegos, 39, received the two-year deferred judgment and sentence last week after pleading guilty to felony unauthorized use of a financial transaction device.
District Attorney Will Furse described the nonviolent crime as one of “financial opportunity.”
“I’m a different person now,” Gallegos told Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker Walker.
Starting in late 2010 and throughout early 2011, court records show the defendant used an former employer’s fuel card to make multiple gasoline purchases.
A restitution hearing was set for Oct. 21.
Charges of identify theft were dismissed as a result of the plea deal.
Tobie Baker