Security Guard Who Lied About Shooting Sentenced To Probation

An ex-security guard who admitted lying about getting into an exchange of gunfire while patrolling near Gillespie Field was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation and ordered to pay $1,950 in restitution.

A judge also ordered 180 days in custody for Lance Edward Wright, but suspended the jail sentence as long as Wright successfully completes probation.

Wright, 23, pleaded guilty in August to shooting at an unoccupied vehicle -- his own -- and falsely reporting an emergency.

Wright made the emergency call about 4 a.m. April 5, saying someone in a red Chevrolet Suburban shot at him as he was driving east on Woodside Avenue near state Route 67 in Santee. He told investigators he stopped, got out of his car and returned fire as the shooter fled.

Law enforcement officers were skeptical about the story from the outset, and Wright, who worked for Bravo 3 Security at the time, admitted under questioning five days later that he lied about what happened and fired gunshots into his own car to try to make his lie believable.

Wright told detectives he wanted to get out of the security business and thought a phony shooting would give him an excuse to quit, according to sheriff's Sgt. Scott Enyeart.

Wright, who eventually was fired from his security job, was arrested April 26.

-City News Service