IC man accused of attempted murder pleads guilty to lesser charge

IOWA CITY - A 23-year-old Iowa City man who faced an attempted murder charge after police said he fired a gun toward two men has pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Kelvin L. Perry's trial had been scheduled to start today, but instead he pleaded guilty to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and felon in possession of a firearm. He faces up to five years in prison on each charge when he's sentenced March 5.

Perry, who has two previous felony convictions out of Illinois, originally was charged with attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm as a habitual offender. He could have faced up to 25 years in prison on the attempted murder charge, up to 10 years on the intimidation charge and up to five years on the possession of weapons charge.

He's accused of threatening to kill two men, pointing a gun at them and then firing one shot on May 14 at 1958 Broadway St., according to a police complaint. No one was injured, and everyone involved fled the scene, police reported.

An officer on patrol in an unmarked vehicle witnessed the shot and launched an investigation.

Perry originally pleaded not guilty and filed a motion notifying the court that he planned to use self-defense and provocation as a defense at his trial.

He's also accused of violating his probation by having the handgun; the court will address that issue when he's sentenced.