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Plea agreement in road rage case

by Timothy Bowman

Douglas County Deputy District Attorney Dina Salvucci amended charges against Donald Lawson, a man accused of shooting Jimmy McGeehan on Feb. 6, as part of a plea agreement.

The original charges were attempted murder and seven counts of battery with the use of a firearm resulting in substantial bodily harm.

Lawson is now facing attempted murder and mayhem. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 50 years in prison.



“He has agreed to plead guilty (to attempted murder) which carries a possible four to 40 years and mayhem which carries two to 10,” Salvucci said.

Lawson, 32, has not entered an official plea in the case. On Tuesday, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Tahoe Township Justice Court.



He will appear for arraignment on the new charges in a Minden district court on May 8.

Salvucci said she does not expect the case to go to trial.

“Unless Mr. Lawson changes his mind it will be done and the judge will set sentencing,” Salvucci said. “They will probably set sentencing six weeks after the (arraignment) date. If he pleads guilty then you don’t have a trial. The thing we risk by going to trial is some of the charges may merge.”

Jimmy McGeehan, 30, was assaulted outside his Kingsbury Grade residence in the early-morning hours of Feb. 6. Shortly before the attack occurred, McGeehan heard someone tampering with his vehicle. When he went outside to investigate, he was shot about 11 times with a 9 mm pistol. He suffered wounds to all of his limbs and torso.

McGeehan was taken by Care Flight to Washoe Medical Center in Reno where he remained for nearly two months. McGeehan’s condition improved enough that he went home to Philadelphia to begin rehabilitation April 5.


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