Family feud allegedly escalates to gun threat

Published 11:21 am Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A LeRoy man was charged Monday in Mower County Court for allegedly threatening his brother with a loaded gun.

A Mower County Sheriff’s deputy arrested Jacob Earl Wilder, 30, shortly after 8 p.m. Friday in LeRoy. Wilder was working in a garage in the 500 block of East Columbia Street when his brother arrived. According to the report, the two are in the midst of family problems.

Wilder allegedly grabbed a 7.62 X 54 caliber rifle from his truck, loaded it with bullets and armed himself with two knives — one in his pocket and one in his boot. Another person at the home called 911.

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According to the court complaint, a woman stood in front of Wilder’s brother because she said Wilder would not shoot her. When the deputy arrived, he heard a man telling Wilder to “drop the gun.” Wilder reportedly dropped the gun after the deputy ordered him to do so.

Wilder told authorities he would not shoot his brother, and he was only trying to “scare him away,” the complaint adds.

Wilder’s next court appearance is Dec. 10. He faces two charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one charge of terroristic threats, all felonies.