Midland City woman indicted for shooting into vehicle

By Ebony Horton

Published: October 1, 2008

A woman who took the “unusual” risk of speaking before a Dale County Grand Jury last week was still indicted for shooting into an occupied vehicle this summer.

Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams confirmed the jury indicted Cynthia McClendon, 39, of Midland City, after she allegedly fired multiple shots toward a truck Adam Peterman was driving near her residence to check on crops in June.

Peterman was not injured during the shooting.

A motive was not clear.

Adams said it was rare a defendant testified before a grand jury. McClendon’s attorney, Fred Livaudais, said the decision for her to address the grand jury centered around some “mitigating circumstances.”

“The hope was Mrs. McClendon would be able to ... present other issues and let the grand jury make the choice of whether this was an intentional act to do that at the time,” he said.

“Obviously the grand jury elected to proceed in the indictment ... but these are issues for a later time, for trial.”

Peterman said he still travels to the area when necessary.

“I don’t go by myself and I have some trust issues with strangers, but pretty much I try not to think about it. I am glad this is going to court,” he said.

Shooting into an occupied vehicle is a Class B felony that could carry up to 20 years in a state prison.

A trial date did not show in court records on Wednesday.