Powell Butte man charged with attempted murder

A Powell Butte man was arrested early Thursday on attempted murder and other charges following a domestic dispute in which authorities said he fired a rifle at a car and the bullet went through the windshield, hitting his estranged wife in the arm.

Crook County sheriff’s deputies received a report around 1:30 a.m. of a gunshot injury in the Powell Butte area, said Undersheriff John Gautney.

As deputies got more information, they learned a domestic incident had occurred at a home in the 9800 block of Southwest Riggs Road, during which a shot was fired by a man that struck a woman’s arm, he said.

An investigation found that resident John Knox Heere, 41, and his estranged wife, Annette Harless, 45, of Redmond, had argued over the phone Wednesday evening, the undersheriff said.

Another dispute arose when Harless arrived at Heere’s home. Gautney said Heere fired a .22-caliber rifle in the direction of a car occupied by Harless. The bullet struck the windshield and then hit Harless in the upper arm.

Harless later was taken by private party to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville, where officials said she was treated and released.

Gautney said deputies contacted Heere at his home and he was taken into custody without further incident.

Heere was lodged in the county jail and held on $120,000 bail. Along with attempted murder, he’s charged with first-degree assault (domestic), pointing a firearm at another person, reckless endangering, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.

Gautney said there were no indications alcohol was a factor in the incident.