A Rimersburg woman is behind bars after an alleged shooting that left a man with a chest wound and on a medical flight to a Pittsburgh hospital. Authorities say 34-year-old Tiffany Nicole Sleigher is accused of shooting the man during a dispute Tuesday evening, and he was flown out for further treatment. Sleigher faces a felony aggravated assault charge and is being held in the Clarion County Jail.
Troopers Say Argument Inside Home Ended With Gunfire
According to ExploreClarion, Pennsylvania State Police told investigators the shooting happened around 5:11 p.m. Tuesday at a Madison Township home during a verbal altercation. Court paperwork identifies the victim as 32-year-old Gary Whitling. Troopers say he was shot in the chest and airlifted to a Pittsburgh hospital, and that a .38-special revolver was used.
In an affidavit, Sleigher told investigators she fired in self-defense. Troopers later found her at a residence on Shimmons Road in Toby Township after reports that she had left the scene in a silver Kia SUV.
Charges And Possible Legal Penalties
Court filings accuse Sleigher of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony-level offense. Under Pennsylvania law, aggravated assault is codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702, and a second-degree felony carries a statutory maximum of up to 10 years in prison, according to Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. The charge remains an allegation, and Sleigher is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Arraignment, Bail And Next Court Date
Documents show Sleigher was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Timothy P. Schill, who set bail at $250,000 cash. Per ExploreClarion, Sleigher was unable to post bail and is being held in the Clarion County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 24 at 11:00 a.m., when prosecutors will have to present enough evidence for the case to be bound over for trial.
What Comes Next In The Case
The preliminary hearing will be one of the first chances for more details to surface in open court as the case moves through the magistrate system. Sleigher, like all criminal defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
