Cowan had been drinking before he sat down to watch “Dancing with the Stars’’ and has bipolar disorder, his wife told officers. He was charged Tuesday with reckless endangerment and could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Bail was set at $1,500 for Cowan at his initial court appearance. State public defender Jonas Bednarek, who represented Cowan, declined to comment.
Dane County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Elise Schaffer said Cowan works as a landlord and has a clean criminal record. “It’s kind of sad, actually,’’ Schaffer said.
Janice Cowan told police her husband came home around 6:30 p.m. Monday after drinking at a bar. She said he drank a bottle of beer during dinner and they settled down to watch “Dancing with the Stars.’’
When Palin, the daughter of former vice presidential candidate-turned-GOP celebrity Sarah Palin, began her routine, Steven Cowan jumped up and began swearing, saying something like “The [expletive] politics,’’ according to his wife.
His wife said he was upset that a political figure’s daughter was dancing on TV even though he felt she didn’t have talent.
She told officers her husband left the living room and reappeared with his shotgun, “raging’’ with his face bright red, and blasted the TV.
