A former Macon County Sheriff’s Deputy is facing an Attempted Murder charge and a half-million dollar bond after a standoff with police Saturday night. 51-year-old Markes N. Rodgers of Rosamond had his first court appearance via video conference Monday morning. The charge is a Class X felony, and Rodgers could face six to 30 years in prison if convicted, plus another 20 years because a firearm was discharged.

Christian County State’s Attorney Mike Havera said in court that officers arrived around 4:30 p.m. and saw Rodgers’ wife Kimberly at a neighbor’s house unarmed. The neighbor told police she saw Markes Rodgers shoot at his wife three times, and police determined he used his Macon County on-duty pistol. Havera said it is believed Rodgers was intoxicated at the time of the shooting and standoff. Havera requested a $500,000 bond because of the seriousness of the crime and Rodgers’ training as a police officer.

Rodgers also spoke on his own behalf during the hearing, saying he believes he has an alcohol abuse problem and would like to get treatment. He said he has lost his job in Macon County, and he has a friend that would help him get into an alcohol abuse recovery program if he could post bond. But Associate Judge Amanda Ade-Harlow ruled with the state, setting bond at $500,000. She said after considering his financial situation and his comments, she still had to taken into account the safety of his family, the public, and himself in ruling on the bond.

Rodgers was appointed the public defender for the case, and his first appearance with counsel is set for Thursday, September 14th at 10 a.m.