[OH] Shorter sentence for Deputy Koon shooting at girlfriend because of Iraq (gender-targeted?) PTSD

... her mother, Pam Barber, said her daughter suffered psychological trauma of her own after the shooting incident. She said her daughter has endured nightmares and depression. “Jessica’s been through a lot”... The shooting came one year after Barber accused Koon of slapping and choking her. He was acquitted in that case when Barber did not show up for the trial...

Previous entries:

• Aug 10, 2007 - [OH] BREAKING NEWS: "Sheriff's Deputy [Koon] May Be Armed And Suicidal" - KOON FIRED SHOTS AT HIS GIRLFRIEND THROUGH HER CAR... THE SHOT ENTERED HER DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW NARROWLY MISSING HER... HE FIRED A SHOT AT HER FROM WHAT POLICE BELIEVED TO BE A 40 CALIBER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. BECAUSE KOON IS ARMED AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING INCIDENT HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS WITH POSSIBLE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES...
• May 30, 2008 - [OH] Captured Deputy Koon admits shooting at girlfriend. Has dv history. - ...IN 2001, KOON WAS CHARGED WITH TELEPHONE HARASSMENT INVOLVING A WOMAN. IN 2002, HE ADMITTED TO CRIMINAL MISCHIEF INVOLVING A 20-YEAR-OLD WOMAN. IN 2006, BARBER ACCUSED KOON OF SLAPPING AND CHOKING HER, RESULTING IN HIS ARREST. HE WAS ACQUITTED IN THAT CASE WHEN BARBER DIDN’T SHOW UP FOR THE TRIAL...

Iraq war veteran sent to prison
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
By Dan Horn - dhorn@enquirer.com
June 16, 2008
Randy Koon’s friends say the U.S. Marine reservist suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder when he fired a gunshot at his girlfriend’s car last year. They say his tour of duty in Iraq left him depressed and unable to cope with daily life and relationships. “When he came back from Iraq, he was not the same Randy,” Staff Sgt. Charles Siegel told a judge Monday. The judge said he sympathized with Koon’s struggles, but he still sentenced the Marine to six years in prison on charges of felonious assault. “It’s clear that at the time of the offense you were suffering from mental illness,” said Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ralph “Ted” Winkler. “But at the same time, you shot at the person you loved the most. Thank God you didn’t hit her”... A pre-sentence mental health evaluation and letters from fellow Marines indicate Koon suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, Winkler said... Barber did not speak before Koon’s sentencing, but her mother, Pam Barber, said her daughter suffered psychological trauma of her own after the shooting incident. She said her daughter has endured nightmares and depression. “Jessica’s been through a lot,” she said. “She did not deserve for this to happen to her.” The shooting came one year after Barber accused Koon of slapping and choking her. He was acquitted in that case when Barber did not show up for the trial. Koon apologized Monday for his actions and vowed to make the best of his life. “Wherever I go, I’m going to try to make myself a better person,” he said. “My goal is to still be a useful member of society.” Winkler could have imposed a maximum sentence of up to 11 years. He said a shorter sentence was justified because of mitigating factors, such as Koon’s military service and mental health problems. He said the case was tragic and showed why Americans need to do more for veterans returning from Iraq. “We as a community and a country have not done enough,” Winkler said. “I think we’re going to have significant problems like this in the future.”
[Full article here]