Husband allegedly threatens to kill wife, son

Submitted photo##Denman

Brian Michael Denman, who believed his wife was having an affair, allegedly threatened to kill her and their son. He assaulted her, it’s alleged, and discharged a handgun outside their McMinnville home.

Denman, 37, was arraigned last Friday before Yamhill County Circuit Court Judge John Collins on one count each of fourth-degree domestic assault and unlawful use of a weapon, both Class C felonies, in addition to misdemeanor charges of two counts each of menacing and recklessly endangering another person, and one count of harassment.

Collins set bail at $150,000, and ordered Denman to have no contact with his wife or son if he secures his release from jail by posting the required 10 percent.

Officer Robert Harmon of the McMinnville police gave this account of the incident in a probable cause affidavit:

About 10 p.m. last Thursday, officers were dispatched to the Denman residence on Southwest Taylor Drive on a report of domestic violence. Officers learned Denman’s wife had removed a gun from the residence and secured it in her car.

She said her husband was sleeping and very intoxicated. Her mother and father had arrived at the residence after their daughter called them and asked that they come over and pick her and her child up.

They told officers that Denman had repeatedly told them over the phone he was going to kill his wife, son and then take his own life. Denman’s mother-in-law said her daughter told her he was passed out. However, when Denman’s wife told her mother about a gun being in the residence, and that her husband had assaulted her, she called the police.

About 5 1/2 hours earlier, the Yamhill Communications Agency dispatch center received a call related to shots possibly being fired at the Taylor Drive address. An officer spoke with Denman’s wife, but no further action was taken.

When she was contacted as part of the domestic violence investigation, she said she lied to officers who responded to the shots fired call. She said her husband had discharged at least four rounds from a handgun.

Officers noticed her left eye was bruised and swollen. She said her husband got angry when he discovered text messages on her phone between her and another male.

She said he took a handgun, walked out onto the porch and fired four rounds into the ground as she and her son watched.

Over the next two hours, after officers who responded to the shots fired call left the residence, Denman hit or kneed her from time to time, according to his wife. He would occasionally go outside or into the garage, and when he returned to the house, he would assault her. She said she was struck in the head, stomach and thigh.

She said Denman threatened to kill her, but did not recall him saying he wanted to kill their son.

Their son, 11, said his father discharged “about six rounds.” He said he was uncertain about what to do and what was happening.

Denman admitted discharging the gun because he was angry about the text messages he found on his wife’s phone, and he believed she was cheating on him.

When Denman was told that he had informed his in-laws that he was going to kill his wife and son, he said he didn’t recall saying such a thing. Had that been the case, Denman said there would have been evidence of such a crime.

Denman was told his wife had been assaulted. He said she was swinging on him and pushing him, and he had pushed her away, but he didn’t hit her. The confrontation was only verbal.

Denman said their son was in his room when they were arguing, and that was corroborated by his wife, with the exception of when the shots were fired.

Denman’s next court appearance is 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, for an arraignment on a grand jury indictment.