COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Union City man who was accused of using a gun and uttering a racial slur during a confrontation with his neighbor in late January entered into a plea agreement with the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office Monday in Branch County Circuit Court.
30-year-old James Ray Van Wormer entered no contest pleas to felony charges of felonious assault with a weapon and ethnic intimidation.
In exchange for his pleas, prosecutors will drop charges of being in possession of a short barreled shot gun, felony firearm and reckless use of a weapon.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2019
Union City Police say the incident happened in the 400 block of North Broadway at about midnight January 28, 2019.
Courts documents indicate Van Wormer was intoxicated and allegedly used the N word during the confrontation. His alleged victim was not injured after he managed to wrestle the weapon away from the suspect.
