Lindstrom sentenced for shooting his wife

A Mountain Home man accused of shooting his wife in a domestic argument in September was sentenced to probation during a hearing on Friday.

Matthew R. Lindstrom, 29, had pleaded guilty to an amended complaint of aiming a firearm at another person during a preliminary hearing that ended in December.

He was initially charged with aggravated battery for shooting his wife, Sara, at their home during an argument Sept. 15. Lindstrom, an airman stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, had just returned from an overseas deployment less than a week prior.

The final plea was part of an agreement negotiated between the Elmore County prosecuting attorney's office and Lindstrom's private attorney.

Previous testimony indicated that he and his wife were hosting a party at their home that day and were both heavily intoxicated. During the party, the couple had an argument that quickly escalated, said county prosecutor Tina Schindele during her closing arguments.

There was no dispute that Lindstrom's wife initially assaulted her husband, Schindele said.

However, it was her husband that went into their kitchen, chambered a round in his weapon and confronted his wife in the bedroom hallway of their home.

What happened at that residence was "violent and tragic," with his wife taking a point-blank gunshot wound to the chest, Schindele added.

"It's very clear that she was shot by a gun by her husband," the prosecutor emphasized.

In his client's defense, Mark Manweiler called it a unique case from a factual perspective. He emphasized that Sara Lindstrom's rage and jealousy, combined with heavy alcohol use, led to the shooting.

The defense highlighted her previous violent history in which she had attacked her husband. Photos entered into the record at the hearing showed previous injuries Lindstrom's wife had inflicted on her husband prior to the shooting.

In fact, Lindstrom was beaten by his wife twice in the three days prior to the shooting, Manweiler added. He was trying to get her to stop the abuse.

Lindstrom's attorney also highlighted Sara's mental state, which included previous diagnosis of various mental disorders. During her testimony at the preliminary hearing, Sara Lindstrom admitted to having thoughts of suicide most of her adult life.

The critical factor is that Sara Lindstrom caused the firearm to discharge, Manweiler said. He argued that his client's finger was not on the trigger, and she was the one that actually caused the weapon to fire.

Sara Lindstrom had previously testified that she may have grabbed the gun in her husband's hands and pushed the trigger. That caused the .45 automatic pistol to fire with the bullet from the gun striking her in the chest, she added.

"This was clearly a tragic case. It's fortunate that Sara wasn't injured more seriously," Manweiler said.

The defense asked for leniency in the case, highlighting Lindstrom's distinguished military career with no prior criminal history. His attorney added that his client had accepted responsibility in the case.

Despite repeated requests from the prosecutor, Lindstrom's wife never provided a victim impact statement for use in the sentencing hearing.

"I'm sorry this all happened," Lindstrom told the judge prior to sentencing.

Before issuing his ruling, Epis emphasized that pointing a firearm at another individual is a very serious charge. Incidents like this are frequently seen in court and appear to be escalating, the judge added.

"The cardinal rule is you never point a weapon unless you intent to hurt another person," Epis said. It was something the judge learned as a child when he learned to use firearms himself, he said.

While acknowledging Lindstrom's military service, Epis added that service to his nation cuts both ways.

"Alcohol and firearms never mix," the judge said, adding that the Air Force would never condone this type of behavior.

"Regardless of whose finger was on the trigger, the defendant introduced a firearm into this situation," Epis said.

The judge issued a judgement of conviction in the case, adding that Lindstrom would've received jail time if state law allowed. In addition to placing him on one year's probation, the judge issued a $1,000 fine while suspending $200 of that penalty.

In addition to paying his court costs, Lindstrom was ordered to complete an alcohol treatment program, which could involve attending a program offered at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

The judge did allow two firearms in the home to be returned to Lindstrom's father. However, he ordered that his other firearm would remain locked up until he fulfilled the conditions of his probation.

The only exception would involve Lindstrom's official duties on base that dictate that he be issued a weapon, the judge said.