By Guy Page

A 24-year-old Corinth woman has been cited for reckless endangerment after police say she placed a handgun near a man who had expressed intentions of harming himself during an argument in February. The man picked up the gun, which discharged a short time later, killing him.

Donna Guillette, 24, of Corinth was issued a citation Friday, October 23, following an eight-month Vermont State Police investigation into the February 14 death of Jeremy Kawalec, 25, also of Corinth.

According to state police, Guillette and Kawalec argued during the night of February 14. Investigators determined that Guillette introduced a firearm into the dispute despite knowing Kawalec had expressed intentions of self-harm.

Guillette placed the handgun near Kawalec, who picked it up. The gun discharged a short time later, fatally wounding him, police said.

Police responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic altercation at a Richardson Road residence at approximately 11:15 PM. A responding trooper found Kawalec unresponsive inside the home. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

An autopsy conducted February 17 determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound sustained during an altercation. The medical examiner classified the manner of death as undetermined.

Although police initially investigated the death as suspicious, they subsequently announced it was not considered suspicious.

Following completion of the investigation, detectives submitted their findings to the Orange County State’s Attorney’s Office, which directed police to cite Guillette for one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment.

Guillette is scheduled for arraignment at 8:30 AM Wednesday, November 18, in Vermont Superior Court’s Criminal Division in Chelsea.