The mayor of Blairstown is facing a felony charge following an alleged shooting incident that occurred Friday afternoon.
Donna J. Cutler, who serves as mayor of the small community right here in Henry County, has been charged with a Class B felony of unlawful use of a weapon. According to the probable cause statement, Cutler is accused of knowingly shooting a firearm at another person on April 17.
Deputies were dispatched around 2:48 p.m. to the 100 block of East Fifth Street in Blairstown for a report of a subject firing a handgun at a victim. When deputies arrived, they made contact with Cutler, an adult male, and a child outside the residence. Authorities said Cutler complied with commands and was taken into custody.
According to investigators, Cutler admitted to firing the weapon but told deputies she discharged two rounds into the ground as “warning shots” after a verbal confrontation with the alleged victim. She told deputies she believed the individual may have had a knife, though she was unsure, and said she was attempting to protect herself and two children inside the home.
However, the alleged victim provided a different account to law enforcement. The man told deputies he was walking along what he described as an easement behind the property when Cutler began yelling and cursing before firing multiple shots in his direction. He estimated he was approximately 35 to 45 yards away at the time.
Investigators noted that four shell casings were located on the property near a carport, and a .380 caliber handgun was recovered from inside the residence with Cutler’s consent.
Authorities also say that Cutler admitted to consuming alcohol before and after the incident. A portable breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.110%.
Video obtained from a nearby witness reportedly showed the alleged victim walking behind the property when a figure on a porch raised an arm in his direction. The video, which did not include audio, showed the man raising his hands before ducking and moving away from the area.
Cutler was formally charged by Henry County Prosecuting Attorney LaChrisha M. Gray. The Class B felony carries a potential sentence of five to 15 years in prison upon conviction.
Cutler was issued a $25,000 cash-only bond and imposed additional conditions of release. Those conditions include no contact with the alleged victim and a prohibition on possessing or consuming alcohol or controlled substances without a valid prescription. The court also noted concerns regarding community safety in its findings.
