An Ottawa County man has been handed a substantial sentence after his conviction for a domestic dispute that escalated to gunfire. Vaughn Lowe Smith, 35, received a minimum of 25 years in prison for his attempted murder charge, following an incident in which he shot his girlfriend multiple times during an argument over paternity, as reported by mLIVE.
The altercation, which occurred on May 23, 2024, took a disturbing turn as one of Smith’s children, a 16-year-old, intervened with a knife. This act of defense ultimately resulted in Smith being hospitalized with a stab wound, all while the children present in the home remained unharmed, as per the WHTC report.
During the sentencing on Friday last week, Smith’s remorse was evident as he broke down, expressing his deep regret. “I made a terrible decision that day, a terrible decision that day, your honor,” Smith said in a statement obtained by WZZM13. The judge in the case acknowledged Smith’s apparent genuine remorse but stood firm on the necessity for him to face the consequences for his actions, considering the premeditation evidence presented in court. Despite the plea from the victim for leniency, stating Smith has already served sufficient time…