Man sentenced in Bessemer shooting

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Bessemer — A Bessemer man was sentenced to prison last week for an April shooting in the city.

Timothy James Wigman, 26, was sentenced to between 3 and 10 years in prison for assault with intent to commit great bodily harm.

Gogebic Circuit Judge Michael Pope warned Wigman in court Aug. 11 that he came close to facing a much longer prison sentence.

“That was a very serious offense. As the doctor acknowledged, a little bit down and a little bit more in center and this would be a totally different sentencing that would be happening right now,” Pope said, referring to a doctor’s report that was referenced earlier in the sentencing hearing. “So I can’t look at the fact you were fortunate you didn’t kill (the victim) or severely injure him. I have to look at what you did.”

Wigman was also sentenced to between 23 months and 5 years for possessing a short-barreled shotgun. He will serve the two sentences concurrently.

Wigman pleaded guilty to the two charges on June 30.

As part of the plea agreement, charges of assault with intent to murder, possession of a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm under the influence causing serious impairment and possessing a firearm while committing a felony were dismissed.

The agreement also called for Prosecutor Nick Jacobs to recommend a sentence within the state of Michigan’s sentencing guidelines in the case.

The charges stem from an April 8 incident when Wigman shot a friend he had been living with while both worked at a local ski hill, according to court records. Wigman shot the man in the shoulder with a 20-gauge shotgun, according to the records, during a fight after the friend and his wife told Wigman he needed to move out because he went out with a friend instead of social-distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wigman received a jail credit of 125 days for time served prior to his sentencing.