An East Litchfield man charged with shooting his wife was released from jail Friday on $500,000 bond after a judge refused to lower the amount in Litchfield Superior Court.

John Lavoie of 16 East Litchfield Road South was taken to the Veterans Administration hospital in West Haven for treatment of psychiatric and medical issues, according to Rachel Baird, his attorney. He was charged with first-degree assault for allegedly shooting Shelly Lavoie in the leg Nov. 24 at their home.  John Lavoie is confined to a wheelchair.

Lavoie was required to post $35,150 in cash or assets for his release, said a spokesman for Capitol Bail Bonds of Hartford.  The money is not refundable.

During a hearing before Judge James P. Ginocchio, Baird argued there were “clear mitigating circumstances” to reduce Lavoie’s bond and modify a protective order so he could retrieve medical equipment and clothing from his home.    The shooting occurred when Lavoie was “under severe emotional strain” after learning his wife was having a sexual affair with a handyman, Baird said.

“This is an isolated incident,” Baird said.  Lavoie has no record of domestic violence or criminal convictions.  He is remorseful and realizes his wife wants to end the marriage, Baird said.  Glastonbury psychiatrist Kenneth Seeley evaluated Lavoie and found he is not a danger to the community, according to a letter submitted in court.

“This is not your garden variety marital dispute,” Ginocchio said in denying the motion to reduce Lavoie’s bond.  “It was a serious, serious type of offense.”  Ginocchio said prosecutors have “a very strong case” based on evidence presented Friday.

On Nov. 24, John Lavoie threatened his wife with a gun during an argument over numbers erased from her cell phone, said Assistant State’s Attorney Dawn Gallo.   When Shelly ran to the master bathroom, John wedged his wheelchair in the doorway.  He shot her in the leg as she tried to climb out the bathroom window, Gallo said.  When he threatened to shoot Shelly in the back, she grabbed the gun and wrestled it out of his hands.

“She attempted to flee, and he grabbed onto her leg including with his teeth,” Gallo said.  Shelley dragged him to an exterior door, where she escaped.

During a nearly 10-hour stand-off with police, John Lavoie phoned many people, including friends, handyman Leonard Morey, and Morey’s wife.  Lavoie told Morey’s wife that Leonard was cheating on her and gave her Shelly’s license plate numbers, Gallo said. 

John Lavoie applied to take a pistol permit course a few days before the incident. Earlier, he told Leonard Morey he would shoot him with a high-powered rifle and scope if he caught him with Shelly, Gallo said.

“There is abundant evidence Mr. Lavoie knew exactly what he was doing,” she said.

Lavoie, 53, has been confined to a wheelchair since his teens, when his legs were paralyzed in a car accident on a military base.  He is 100 percent disabled and receives medical care and disability benefits through the Veterans Administration, according to Baird.

“He’s not getting any psychiatric treatment at the Department of Corrections,” said Baird.  “Mr. Lavoie’s condition has deteriorated since he has been there.”

Ginocchio did not rule on the protective order.  The property issues were referred to officials in Family Court, where John Lavoie filed for divorce on Dec. 4.  His next court date is March 2.

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