An Alexander man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for the attempted murder of his wife last year at the Buffalo National River, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser said Thursday.
John Prickett Jr., 52, was convicted this week after he shot his wife multiple times at close range in an argument while camping at the national park near Yellville on Sept. 8, 2014, according to court records.
He appeared before U.S. District Court Judge P.K. Holmes III in Fort Smith for the sentencing hearing.
Prickett's wife underwent several surgeries for the gunshot wounds described as "extremely serious and life-threatening" at the time, authorities said. She was listed in critical but stable condition a day later.
The Associated Press reported last year that the wife had 14 injuries from bullets, though the number of times she was shot was unclear.
The National Park Service and the Marion County sheriff's office investigated the shooting.
