A Plainfield woman has been sentenced to five years in state prison for threatening a group of people with a loaded shotgun a little less than two years ago, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Tuesday.
Brittany Banks, 25, must serve at least 42 months of that term before becoming eligible for parole under the terms set down Tuesday morning by state Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim.
It was approximately 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2014 when Banks visited a relative at a residence on the 800 block of Hobert Avenue in Plainfield, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Travis Carter, who prosecuted the case. Shortly after her arrival, an altercation between Banks and several people gathered at the home broke out, prompting her to leave, Carter said.
Shortly thereafter, however, Banks returned to the home with a group of relatives and friends, sparking a second altercation. At that time, Banks emerged from the trunk of her vehicle with a loaded, double-barreled Charles-Daly shotgun, which she brandished in the street while threatening to “shoot up” the home and several of those present, Carter said.
At that point, Plainfield Police Division patrol units were called to the scene. Banks was arrested, and following the obtaining of a search warrant, the shotgun was recovered from the trunk of her car.
Following a weeklong trial before Judge Peim that culminated in December 2015, a Union County jury deliberated for several hours over the course of two days before returning guilty verdicts against Banks for second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two related third-degree weapons offenses, and a third-degree charge of making terroristic threats.