Woman pleads guilty in shooting of her husband

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 | 9:39 a.m.

A 66-year-old woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempted murder in the shooting of her 69-year-old husband in the stomach during a domestic dispute on July 7.

Laverne Goldberg pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder with a deadly weapon as part of a plea negotiation with prosecutors for the shooting of Clarence Goldberg.

In exchange for her guilty plea prosecutors have agreed not to oppose probation for Laverne Goldberg at her Feb. 24 sentencing before District Judge Joe Bonaventure.

She was released from custody late Tuesday and placed into the hands of a personal guardian who was to escort her to a managed care facility.

Laverne Goldberg was originally deemed not competent to stand trial and sent to Lake's Crossing, the state's mental facility in Sparks. Doctors have since determined she was able to understand the charges against her and assist counsel during proceedings.

She is expected to remain at the managed care facility indefinitely where staff will "make sure she takes her medication."

Police said Clarence Goldberg called 911 about 1:45 a.m. on July 7 saying he needed an ambulance, and then the call disconnected.

As with all 911 hang-up calls, the operator called back. A woman answered and said the prior call was a mistake. The dispatcher sent a police officer to the home in the 4300 block of Beach Cliff Avenue near Lone Mountain Road and Decatur Boulevard.

On the way to the house officers spotted a driver going through a stop sign in the area, stopped the car and found a man who had made the 911 call in the passenger seat. Police said he had a gunshot wound in the stomach.

Police arrested the driver, Laverne Goldberg.