Friday, April 30, 2004

Husband shot by wife said she was high on crack By JOHN MUNFORD jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com A south Fayette man who was shot by his wife several weeks ago asked Thursday for a lower bond to be set so she can be released from jail. Ronald Edward Gann said he was not afraid of Tiffany Chere Gann, and that he assumed she was high on crack cocaine and alcohol when she shot him three times the evening of March 11 at the couple’s home at 283 Chappell Road. Mr. Gann was struck in the right hand, left shoulder and his lower back by three shots, according to police reports. But Thursday his testimony showed he was prepared to perhaps forgive his wife. “I truly feel like this was a rude awakening for her,” Mr. Gann testified. “... I feel like the crack cocaine shot me and the country ought to do more about the drug problem.” Tiffany Gann, 28, is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Fayette Superior Court Judge Paschal A. English Jr. said Mrs. Gann’s previous drug conviction, for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, was enough reason for him to keep her bond set at $330,000, an amount originally reached by Fayette County Magistrate James A. White. Mr. Gann said the shooting occurred during an argument between the couple. When pressed for details of the argument by Judge English, Gann asserted his fifth amendment right not to incriminate himself. The couple has been married for six years but they have no children, Mr. Gann said. He works as a pipefitter for Ford Motor Company but his wife is unemployed, he testified. Mr. Gann said his wife had the gun for protection purposes because of some ongoing litigation she has with a probation officer in Griffin. He also testified that he had previously taken her to locations in Atlanta to buy crack cocaine, but he never purchased any of the illicit substance. Mr. Gann said he took her to buy the crack “because she was driving me crazy.” In court filings, Mrs. Gann’s previous attorney alleged that she pulled the pistol on her husband to “defend herself.” It was noted that she had several bruises on her body showing her husband had “tormented and abused” her. Mrs. Gann did not testify during the hearing.

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