Lowrance sentenced to time served, fined, for shooting

A Havre man was sentenced Tuesday to eight days in jail, already served, and fined $25, for shooting a gun June 10 in a residential neighborhood in Havre after he inserted himself into an argument about a dog.

James R. Lowrance, born in 1990, made profane comments toward two women after one of them confronted another man, her upstairs neighbor, about him hitting his own dog. When a boyfriend of one of the women confronted Lowrance, he pulled a gun from a holster and threatened the boyfriend.

The boyfriend followed him outside after Lowrance made additional profane comments, and Lowrance pulled the gun again, shooting it to prove it was a real, loaded gun.

A jury in state District Court in Havre found Lowrance guilty of two misdemeanors, shooting a gun inside the city and negligent endangerment, but found him not guilty of the felony charge of criminal endangerment.

State District Judge Dan Boucher sentenced Lowrance to one year in the county jail, with all but eight days suspended and credit for eight days served, and ordered him to pay a $25 fine on the shooting a gun inside city limits charge. He also ordered Lowrance to pay $85 in court fees and charges for each offense.

Boucher said the sentence was appropriate because the jury found Lowrance’s actions were neither justifiable nor appropriate and that his continued placement in similar situations was a concern.

He ordered Lowrance to pay all fines and fees within 30 days of the end of the sentence and to remain law-abiding and not possess firearms or ammunition during the suspended portion of the sentence.