Arizona Man Sentenced to 1 Year in Jail for Pointing Rifle at Mother

Beau Lieurance, 28, of Arizona, received 12 months in county jail after pleading guilty to aggravated assault for pointing an assault rifle at his mother during a dispute over the house.

Arizona Son Who Pointed Assault Rifle at Mother Sentenced to Jail and Probation

An Arizona man will serve 12 months in county jail after pulling an assault rifle on his mother during an argument over his claimed "entitlement" to part of the home they share, Law & Crime reports.

Beau Lieurance, 28, was sentenced last week to 12 months in county jail and four years of supervised probation, beginning Aug. 27, according to a sentencing order obtained by Law & Crime. He allegedly pointed the weapon at his mother and pulled the trigger — the gun did not discharge.

Lieurance accepted a plea agreement in late July and pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In addition to targeting his mother, he was accused of pointing the rifle at an elderly man who was also staying at the home. Prosecutors suggested his anger may have been aggravated by a video game he plays up to 60 hours per week.

"Fed up" over housing dispute

"I finally became fed up," Lieurance reportedly told the court earlier this year. "It was my part of the house which I haven't gained entitlement to over the last seven years," he said, according to local Fox affiliate KSAZ.

He was originally arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a weapon during the commission of a felony, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. He accepted the plea deal on July 30, court records show.

Video game habits raised in court

Prosecutors raised Lieurance's obsession with the strategy game "Total War" as a possible contributing factor to the incident. A Maricopa County prosecutor cited the gaming habit at a February hearing.

"There are allegations that he currently plays a video game titled 'Total War,'" the prosecutor told the court. "He plays that approximately 50 to 60 hours per week. There are concerns with the people that he plays with … that are based, possibly in North Africa, that have ties to Islamic extremists."

The same prosecutor noted that Lieurance admitted to officers he uses "secret apps on his phone" to communicate with individuals he plays the game with.

"Total War" is a strategy game series featuring turn-based empire building and large-scale real-time battles.

Lieurance claims he is the victim

Lieurance contested the narrative presented by prosecutors. He told the court that the charges and accusations were "completely false" and maintained he was the actual victim in the situation.

"It was very obvious to any neighbor you could ask of that it was an intimidation for three to four days," he said. "I believe that certain liquids was laced in some of my drinks."

It remains unclear whether Lieurance knew the rifle would fail to fire when he pulled the trigger. Prosecutors pointed to both mental health concerns and his gaming habits as possible factors.

Sentencing conditions

Under the sentencing order issued Thursday, Lieurance must pay restitution covering "all economic loss to all victims," complete 12 months in jail, and serve four years of probation. Probation conditions include domestic violence counseling, a mental health evaluation, and any treatment recommended following that evaluation.

The order allows for early release directly into an inpatient mental health facility, provided the facility is pre-approved by adult probation and the court. Full compliance and successful completion of any such program is required as a condition of probation. Failure to comply would result in Lieurance returning to jail to complete his remaining sentence.

Lieurance has been ordered to have no contact with his mother and may not return to her residence without written approval from his probation officer. The order specifies that such approval will not be granted if any active protection orders or other court orders prohibit it.

Source: Law & Crime