Man who allegedly shot at wife makes court appearance

Robert Reid

A 52-year-old Greencastle man who allegedly discharged a sawed-off shotgun at his soon-to-be ex-wife made his initial appearance in court Friday.

And his appearance marked another round of amended charges, the second since Robert E. Reid was initially held Wednesday on attempted murder and criminal confinement counts.

During an appearance before Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges, Reid had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf to the following charges:

-- Criminal confinement with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony which carries a sentencing range of 3-16 years in prison.

-- Criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony punishable by 6-30 months in prison.

-- Invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 365 days in jail.

The charges stem from a Wednesday afternoon incident that unfolded outside the Reids’ 800 N. Madison St., Lot 6 mobile home and ended after Reid allegedly discharged the shotgun “in the general direction” of estranged wife Joyce Reid. That resulted in him being wrestled to the ground and detained by bystanders.

Reid also faces a petition to revoke probation count because of the new charges occurring while he is on probation in another previous case.

The Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office had initially also planned to charge the suspect with illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

However, under the new Indiana Criminal Code, it is no longer illegal to possess a sawed-off shotgun in the state, Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter told the Banner Graphic.

The judge asked Bookwalter for a bond recommendation on Reid.

Asking for $30,000 cash, Bookwalter called Reid “a danger to himself and others” and pointed to his violation of a protective order that was in place concerning contact with his wife.

Judge Bridges granted the $30,000 cash bond.

Bridges also appointed attorney Austin Malayer to represent Reid, setting a Nov. 2 pretrial conference in the case.