Man receives life sentence for firing at a woman who declined his sexual advances, according to the District Attorney
In a shocking turn of events, Steven Robertson, a 78-year-old resident of Mississippi, has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. The shooting incidents that led to this sentence occurred in DeSoto County, Mississippi.
According to reports, the incidents stemmed from a refusal by a woman to comply with Robertson's demands. The details surrounding this refusal are not fully disclosed, but it is known that the woman did not remove her clothing prior to the shooting.
During the confrontation, the woman was shot in the leg, and Robertson's son attempted to disarm him. Regrettably, Robertson also shot his son. The condition of both victims and the son's recovery following the incident are not publicly known.
The District Attorney's Office in DeSoto County, Mississippi, handled the case. District Attorney Matthew Barton stated that at 78 years old, the sentence effectively amounts to a life sentence for Robertson. He will spend the rest of his life in a striped jumpsuit, according to Barton.
Robertson was convicted for shooting a woman and was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is classified under aggravated assault and battery offenses in Mississippi.
Under Mississippi Code § 97-3-7 and related statutes, a person commits aggravated assault and battery if they intentionally or knowingly cause bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, or threaten to use a drawn deadly weapon unlawfully. This offense is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years.
The penalty for aggravated assault and battery involving a deadly weapon is imprisonment for up to ten years. However, there may be additional penalties or sentencing enhancements depending on the circumstances.
Mississippi law also recognizes that threatening to use a deadly weapon unlawfully can lead to felony charges. In this case, Robertson was found guilty of both counts.
There is no indication from the sources that Mississippi law includes mandatory minimum sentences or different classes of felony specifically for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon beyond the referenced maximum penalty.
[1] Mississippi Code Annotated § 97-3-7 (2021).
In the light of the events, it appears that the government officials in DeSoto County, Mississippi, have been managing a case categorized under both 'politics' and 'general-news', due to the legal proceedings related to the sentencing of Steven Robertson. Robertson, a 78-year-old resident, was convicted for shooting a woman and his son, and sentenced to up to 30 years, which, according to District Attorney Matthew Barton, effectively results in a life sentence. This conviction occurred under aggravated assault and battery offenses, with Robertson being charged for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, an offense covered under Mississippi Code § 97-3-7.
