A Durango man who shot a rifle into a neighbor’s house and pointed the gun at a police officer had his two-year probationary sentence cut in half Thursday in District Court.
The early termination of probation allows Ian Kenneth Meier, 22, to travel internationally to study environmental policy and river restoration, according to statements made in 6th Judicial District Court by him and his Durango defense attorney, Ingrid Alt.
Meier, a junior at Fort Lewis College, pleaded guilty last year to felony menacing and prohibited use of a firearm. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years probation. During his sentencing hearing, District Judge Jeffrey Wilson said he would consider reducing his probation to one year if he successfully completed terms of his probation, which included community service and complying with mental health and substance abuse treatment and recommendations.
On Thursday, District Judge Todd Norvell agreed with the probation reduction.
Norvell’s order doesn’t take effect until May 5 – one year after Meier’s sentencing date – and Meier must stay out of trouble for it to take effect. He plans to leave the country May 7.
Meier, who was intoxicated at the time, set off a tense standoff about 11:30 p.m. July 24, 2015, when he accidentally fired two rounds from an AR15 semi-automatic rifle while cleaning it inside his home at 317 Hillcrest Drive.
One of the shots pierced his neighbor’s house and passed over a bed where someone was sleeping. When police arrived, Meier stepped into an open doorway and raised his weapon toward Durango Police Officer Bryan Heaton, who was 20 to 30 feet away. Heaton yelled for Meier to drop the weapon and fired two shots at him, missing Meier with both.
Meier fled out the back door but surrendered to an officer about 10-15 minutes later.
Speaking to the court Thursday, Heaton said the encounter left him shaken. He said he served six years in the Army but never had such a close call.
He felt like his life was in danger and it was the closest he’s come to taking someone else’s life.
Heaton objected to early termination of probation.
Meier said little about the incident; he plans to go to graduate school.
Alt, his attorney, said Meier is an “exceptional student” who made a “really poor choice” that endangered lives.
More than most of her clients, he is consumed with guilt, shame, soul-searching and character development, she said.
“He’s not going to commit any more offenses,” Alt said. “I would be shocked if the courts see him again.”
shane@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect address of Ian Meier’s home.
