A Whitefield man who was angry about his neighbors’ target practice faces felony charges after allegedly firing a shotgun round over their heads June 21.
Robert M. Pierpont Sr., 68, faces two class C charges of reckless conduct with a firearm. A Lincoln County grand jury indicted Pierpont on the charges Sept. 10.
Lt. Michael Murphy, of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, said a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old male juvenile were target shooting behind their house in a legal, safe manner.
Pierpont dislikes the noise from their target practice and occasional fireworks use, Murphy said.
The neighbors were walking back from checking their target when they heard a gunshot and shotgun pellets hitting the trees above them, Murphy said.
Pierpont told a sheriff’s deputy the neighbors had been shooting toward his property and scaring his dog, Murphy said.
“He admitted that he fired a shot, but he said ‘I shot over their heads.’ He said he was on his property; he could shoot anywhere he wanted,” Murphy said. “We recovered a shotgun and the shotgun shell” and arrested Pierpont, he said.
Pierpont is free on $1,000 cash bail. His bail conditions prohibit contact with the 20-year-old, the 16-year-old, and another individual; prohibit the possession or use of dangerous weapons, including firearms; and require him to submit to random searches.
Pierpont is due to appear for arraignment in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 25.
Pierpont’s attorney, Scott Hess, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
