Woman sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for shooting soldier husband
A federal judge sentenced the woman who pleaded guilty to shooting her husband and then lying to make it look like an accident.
Arely Brigette Ruiz, 24, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for shooting her husband inside their residence on Fort Bliss earlier this year.
On October 6, 2017, Ruiz pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
United States District Judge Kathleen Cardone ordered Ruiz pay a $500 find. The woman will also have to serve three years probation when she is released.
Court records state, that on January 16, 2017, Ruiz rushed her husband to William Beaumont Army Medical Center for emergency treatment.
The soldier was suffering from an abdominal gunshot wound. Initially, both the soldier and the wife told hospital staff the weapon, a 9mm pistol, had accidentally discharged during cleaning.
Ruiz’s husband underwent successful surgery and remained in a medically induced coma for the next three days.
On January 19, 2017, the victim regained consciousness and told hospital staff his wound was not self-inflicted. The soldier said Ruiz shot him with a pistol.
The woman initially denied her husband’s accusations, but later admitted she shot the soldier as they argued about a potential divorce.
Ruiz has remained in federal custody since her arrest on January 16, 2017.
