Spokane man gets three months for shooting woman in knee

A Spokane man, who shot a woman in the knee after she punched him and cracked his tooth, was sentenced Friday to three months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of felony assault.

Richard W. Johnson, 32, had been charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault after a woman said Johnson choked and punched her on Sept. 5 after she intervened in a dispute between Johnson and his girlfriend at the time.

The mother of the woman who was choked then went to Johnson’s residence at 1508 E. Wabash Ave. When he opened the door, the mother punched Johnson in the mouth and cracked his tooth, according to court records. Johnson “then presented a pistol … and shot her in the right leg.”

The mother was not seriously hurt and Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Tom Treppiedi agreed to allow Johnson to plead guilty to the lesser charges of second-degree assault for the shooting and third-degree assault for the choking and misdemeanor domestic violence assault against his girlfriend.

Superior Court Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren followed the plea agreement and sentenced Johnson, who had no prior criminal history, to three months in prison.

“It is an experience I will never forget,” Johnson said after pleading guilty.