A Williamsport woman has been sentenced to six to 23 months in county prison for an August 2021 road rage incident during which she fired three shots from her car at another motorist just before 7 a.m. along Interstate 180 near Indian Park in Montoursville, Lycoming County Judge Eric Linhardt ruled Friday afternoon.

The several times delayed sentence comes after Alexa McDevitt, 31, of 2173 Royal Ave., was found guilty of recklessly endangering another person and propulsion of a missile, following a jury trial in May of last year.

She was found not guilty of a charge of aggravated assault.

Though no one was hurt in the incident, one of the shots fired by McDevitt from her Toyota Camry blew out the back window of the male victim’s 2000 Chevrolet Blazer, borough police said.

McDevitt, who said she had a permit for the gun, was later apprehended at her place of employment on Fairfield Road, east of the borough, after which she told police that the victim cut her off, leading her to feel threatened, and that she had a right to shoot at the vehicle, an affidavit said.

However, the victim stated that he was in the passing lane passing another motorist when McDevitt suddenly attempted to pass him by entering the berm on the victim’s left side, police said.

During the sentencing, McDevitt was defiant, arguing that she was not guilty and that justice would ultimately prevail.

“I don’t care what anybody believes,” she stated several times, adding that she knows the truth.

Describing herself as an “exemplary person” and “so loving” and “so caring,” she stressed that she had never hurt anyone, pointing to her lack of a criminal record prior to these events.

She accused police of abusing their authority and refusing to return dashboard footage from her own vehicle, which she said would exonerate her, as well as accusing authorities of libel for presenting statements she said she never made in both the affidavit of probable cause and a pre-sentence report.

“I’m not one to bow down and I will not stop until I get justice,” she told the court, adding, “I will not be punished for something I didn’t do.”

Yet, she justified her actions taken that day by stating that she was in “shock” over the incident, being that she weighs only 105 pounds, which is why she purchased and carried the firearm.

“I’m a tiny girl, that’s why I got the gun. A pocket knife or some other weapon could’ve been easily taken from me,” she said.

She also stated that, had she been guilty, she would’ve fled the state, and not gone straight to work.

Arguing for a light sentence including house arrest, defense attorney Mark Hinrichs blamed the incident on a number of factors including several past abusive relationships resulting in possible PTSD.

“Luckily no one was killed. Ms. McDevitt is also grateful that no one was killed,” Hinrichs told Linhardt.

“As a parent I have always known Alexa to be loving and kind,” her father said, while noting that she has been through several rough patches.

“We have never known her to be overly aggressive or overly in your face,” he said.

“This is not the Alexa I know,” her father stated.

The victim, not present in court, requested that McDevitt be required to serve some jail time, as well as pay restitution for the damage done to his vehicle, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Feese said.

“The victim is fortunate he was not hurt. In fact, Ms. McDevitt is fortunate that only the victim’s car was hit,” the ADA said.

“She does not understand the gravity of her actions,” Feese told the judge, calling the firing of a gun on a busy highway, “without justification.”

Feese successfully argued for the charge of recklessly endangering another person to receive a deadly weapon enhancement, which came with a heavier sentence than she would’ve otherwise received.

“Any lesser sentence would depreciate the conduct carried out by the defendant, the risk of harm to others, as well as Ms. McDevitt’s failure to accept any responsibility for her wrongdoings,” Linhardt said in handing down his ruling.

In addition to prison time, McDevitt was also sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation upon her release.

She was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, undergo a mental health evaluation, as well as to pay restitution to, and have no contact with the victim.

Vowing to appeal the convictions and sentence, McDevitt was given a deferred date to report to prison of Jan. 27 in order for her to file motions for appeal and bail based on the appeal petition.

If those motions are not filed and McDevitt fails to appear, a bench warrant will be issued for her arrest, Linhardt warned.