Mother-in-Law Faces Trial in Shooting

A Simi Valley grandmother is scheduled to stand trial Nov. 28 on charges that she attempted to murder her son-in-law during a domestic dispute.

Deloris Chartier, 64, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and firearms charges Tuesday during an arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court.

Chartier, who has no criminal record, faces a possible life prison sentence if convicted.

After the hearing, her lawyer declined to discuss Chartier’s defense but acknowledged that there may have been allegations of child abuse that prompted the dispute.

“It is a very tragic situation,” said Deputy Public Defender Jan Helfrich, adding that an investigation is ongoing. “I don’t feel comfortable commenting on it now.”

According to evidence presented at a recent preliminary hearing, Chartier arrived at her daughter’s Simi Valley home July 7 to baby-sit her two grandchildren and got into an argument with son-in-law Glenn Barry, 36.

As the dispute intensified, Chartier allegedly pulled a handgun and fired at Barry, hitting him twice in the chest.

Chartier drove from the scene but was spotted by police a few blocks away and arrested. She suffered a heart attack during the arrest and was hospitalized.

Helfrich said Chartier remains under a doctor’s care and is being housed in the medical unit of the Ventura County Jail. She remains jailed in lieu of $750,000 bail.