A 23-year-old Edgewater man said he thought he was acting in self-defense last June when he fired a warning blast from his shotgun after a stranger demanded payment of a supposed debt -- then tried to stab him through his own screen door.
But the man with the knife was already leaving when Michael Scott came out of his apartment with the weapon and fired a shot into the air, a few feet from a wading pool full of children.
No one was injured, but Scott, who had no criminal record, was charged with multiple counts, including attempted murder.
Yesterday in Baltimore County Circuit Court, Scott was convicted and received a 13-month suspended sentence for reckless endangerment of the children. Judge James T. Smith ** Jr. also ordered that he surrender his legally registered shotgun and perform 192 hours of community service.
When Scott said he bought the weapon for protection, Judge Smith responded, "You can see what your protection has gotten you into." But the judge said he would change Scott's sentence to probation before judgment, leaving Scott with no criminal record if he complies with the terms.
An agreed statement of facts by Assistant State's Attorney Robin S. Coffin and Assistant Public Defender Patricia Chappell said Scott cooperated with the police last June 14, telling them "I shot . . . in self-defense."
The incident began about 6 p.m. when a man went to Scott's home in the 200 block of Woodvale Road demanding payment of $10. When the man began stabbing through the screen, Scott fended off the blows with a broom handle.
Frightened, Scott fetched his shotgun and went outside, firing one "bravado shot" into the air above the departing man, the statement said.
Scott works at a recording studio and now lives with a brother, Ms. Chappell said. "He doesn't understand the law on self-defense, but he does understand now that this is criminal behavior."
Ms. Chappell, Ms. Coffin and Judge Smith all explained that the facts didn't support Scott's view because the incident had ended when he went for his gun.
"You can only use deadly force when you have a reasonable expectation that you are going to be killed or injured significantly," Ms. Coffin said. "You can never use deadly force when it's over."
Brian Strauss, of the 1400 block of Hadwick Drive, is wanted for failing to appear in District Court in September on a charge of assault on Scott with a knife, the attorneys said.