Woman Pleads Guilty To Shooting Boyfriend in the Back

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A woman who was charged with shooting her boyfriend twice in their eastern Cherokee County home has agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors.

Jessica Couch, 32, last week pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault. She was sentenced to a total of 12 years, with three years to serve behind bars and the rest on probation.

Upon her release from jail, Couch must also pay the probation supervision fee, reimburse Cherokee County for attorney’s fees no more than $800, perform 100 hours of community service, provide verification for evaluation and/or treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues, not consume alcoholic beverages or use narcotic or dangerous drugs unless legally prescribed, not associate with anyone who uses or possesses illegal drugs, not occupy any home where alcohol or illegal drugs are present, not drink alcohol and operate a motor vehicle and shall not posses a firearm or occupy a house or vehicle where a firearm is present.

Deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at around 2:30 p.m. April 13, 2014, to 480 Hester Drive in the Free Home community. Once they arrived, deputies located David Welchel, 40, who had a gunshot would to his back and another to his shoulder area.

Couch allegedly told authorities she shot Welchel because “she thought he was an intruder,” spokesman Lt. Jay Baker previously told Patch. Welchel was treated for non life-threatening injuries at an area hospital.

Cherokee investigators arrived on the scene, and obtained a search warrant for the premises. Baker said the search uncovered a .22 caliber handgun, which investigators believe was the weapon used in the shooting. Also discovered during the search were roughly eight copperheads and one rattlesnake in a cage inside the home.

Baker also said investigators learned both Couch and Welchel allegedly waited about two hours before they called 911 for help. Couch later admitted to be high on methamphetamine at the time of the shooting, Baker stated.

Photo credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office