FARMINGTON – A Franklin County judge set bail at $200,000 cash or $500,000 surety Tuesday for a man accused of shooting his mother.

According to a police affidavit, Joshua Osborne of Farmington shot his mother with a .22 caliber rifle in her upper chest Monday while she was hanging clothes at the family’s farm.

He also fired a couple of other shots from a second gun, including one shot that hit the car as she tried to escape, the document stated.

Osborne, 22, is charged with attempted murder and criminal solicitation to commit murder.

He is also accused of trying to hire someone to shoot his mother in connection with a dispute over selling the family’s farm.

Osborne made an initial appearance before Judge Paul A. Cote Jr. Tuesday in 12th District Court in Farmington.

She was treated for her wounds Monday at Franklin Memorial Hospital and released.

Janette Osborne said that she had been outside hanging clothes on the clothesline at the farm on 172 Osborne Road when she heard a loud bang and felt a sharp pain in her left breast area, according to the affidavit filed in court by Farmington police Detective Marc Bowering.

Janette Osborne looked down, the affidavit stated, and saw that she was bleeding from that area and immediately proceeded to walk to her car parked in the front of the house.

Saw bullet go through car door

As she pulled out of the driveway, she saw her son, Joshua, standing about 75 feet away from her and saw him pull the trigger twice of the long-barreled gun he was pointing at her.

She saw a bullet go through her front passenger-side door, just missing her, Bowering wrote, before driving herself to the hospital.

Bowering also noted that it appeared there were two separate wounds on Janette Osborne’s chest.

Janette Osborne, who turns 47 Wednesday, told police her son has been upset about her plans to sell the farmhouse and all the equipment, the affidavit stated. She told police the situation had gotten so bad that she was having an attorney serve her son an eviction notice, and that her son had found out about her intentions.

After Joshua Osborne allegedly shot his mother, he left the farmhouse. Police searched for him for eight hours until he turned himself into authorities at the Industry Fire Station.

Bowering wrote that Joshua Osborne told police that Janette had agreed to sell him the farm this past week. He told police he mortgaged his skidder for $20,000 to pay her and that when he went to pay for the farm, she backed off the deal and was going to sell it outright.

Police said Osborne told them that he became “very angry” and went into the house, went to his bedroom and grabbed a .22 caliber rifle and three shells. He claimed his mother screamed when he shot her, the document stated.

It was later learned, Bowering’s affidavit stated, that Osborne went back into the house and got another gun, possibly a 30-30 rifle, and shot at her twice more as she drove away.

Bowering wrote that Joshua said “he wanted to kill his mother.” He also admitted, according to Bowering, that he tried to hire his cousin on July 6 to kill his mother with a payment of $10,000 down and $5,000 when it was done.

Joshua Osborne, wearing waist and leg cuffs, sat quietly beside his attorney, Kevin Joyce, during the hearing. More than a dozen friends and family members sat behind the defendant in court.

State prosecutor James Andrews argued for $250,000 cash bail or higher. He said Osborne had the ability to raise a large amount of money. If the court went with surety for bail, Andrews suggested $750,000 surety.

Joyce argued for lower cash bail and surety, saying that his client was a “very hard working” man who has tried to keep the dairy farm running. He said his client had gone through a lot lately, including the recent death of his father, Oliver.

Joyce said his client had “tremendous family” support. Joyce also said Osborne understood the charges are “very serious” and that his mother was doing well after being shot.

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