Attempted homicide plea entered in Mendocino County home invasion

A Mendocino County man has pleaded no contest to attempted murder in connection with a bizarre home invasion that included an armed struggle with the residents of a remote Potter Valley home in 2015.

Eugene Peterson Jr., 34, of Redwood Valley also entered no contest pleas to using a firearm in a crime, making criminal threats against the victims, both in their 50s, and burglary, according to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Facebook page. The agreement was reached Tuesday as jury selection was underway in Peterson’s trial. The deals calls for a maximum 25-year prison sentence, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

According to Mendocino County sheriff’s reports, Peterson was inside the Van Arsdale Road home of Wes and Jan Fairbairn when Jan Fairbairn came home. She attempted to talk to him, but he became increasingly aggressive. She told him she needed to feed her animals in an attempt to get away, but he accompanied her and showed her a gun in his waistband, sheriff’s officials said.

Peterson had just ordered Jan Fairbairn to make him something to eat when her husband arrived. Peterson waived the gun at Wes Fairbairn and ordered him to leave, sheriff’s officials said. Wes Fairbairn left the property to phone 911, then returned.

Peterson again told him to leave and fired several rounds at him from several hundred feet away, officials said. During the gunfire, Jan Fairbairn ran but Peterson caught her and forced her back to the house. During the struggle, she attempted to get the gun and her husband tackled Peterson. The couple was able to disarm Peterson and hold him until deputies arrived.

Peterson is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 7