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HANKSVILLE, Wayne County — A woman who police say entered a home looking for people to shoot, then fired a weapon multiple times now faces criminal charges.
Jericha Wells, 31, was charged Tuesday in 6th District Court with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; possession of a weapon by a restricted person and theft, second-degree felonies; seven counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and making a threat of violence and criminal mischief, class B misdemeanors.
On Saturday, Wayne County sheriff's deputies, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and a ranger from Capitol Reef National Park responded to a report of woman with a gun at a residence. While en route, emergency dispatchers told officers that shots had been fired inside the home. According to one woman who lives in the residence, Wells entered the home, approached the woman and "pointed a weapon at the back of her head and threatened her and her five children, saying over and over, 'I will blow your (expletive) head off,'" according to charging documents.
Wells then walked around the house "talking to people that weren't there," and "went through the house breaking doors trying to locate family members using the firearm on multiple doors as a battering ram and kicking through doors," the charges state. Police say she then exited the house and searched an outbuilding "for individuals that she said she wanted to kill."
After safely being taken into custody, investigators noted that Wells "was talking to individuals that were not there and accused Wayne County deputies of having people in the back of the truck," the charges state.
Wells had previously burned a trailer on the same property, according to a police booking affidavit.
"Family members are extremely concerned for their welfare and the welfare of their children. Given the extensive history with Wayne County Sheriff's Office, including mental health issues, drug abuse, aggression and assault, continued detention is requested," the affidavit states.
Wells also has two outstanding warrants for her arrest in Colorado, according to the affidavit.
