That’s right. A Vermont man was in court Monday morning facing a felony charge of first-degree aggravated domestic assault with a weapon after attacking his mother over his newly-acquired venison.
After downing a deer, the accused, Zachary C. Merriam, 21, allegedly became overly protective of the coveted provisions as an altercation broke out.
Sharing is caring, pal.
Unwilling to share the bounty of his harvest with his mother, Merriam reportedly took after her with the same gun used on the deer. With his 30-30 in hands, he allegedly used the rifle as a club, beating his 40-year-old mother with the stock.
As police arrived on the scene, details emerged as a witness reported that the pair had clashed over the deer meat and the situation escalated after Zachary hurled a television remote at his mother.
Police reported that the bruises photographed on Amanda Stevens-Marriam’s back were consistent with being hit by the stock of a rifle. Police also reported that the accused was “very emotional and irritated” by their presence following the incident but denied striking his mother with his rifle.
Just be nice to Mom
In front of Judge Thomas Zonay in a Rutland, Vermont criminal court, the 21-year-old pleaded not guilty to the felony charge which carried the potential of upwards of 15 years in prison. After a stern lecture from the judge, Merriam was released under the condition that he simply stay away from his mother.