BRENTWOOD — A Newton man may face up to 3 to 6 years in state prison for threatening his son-in-law with a shotgun last June.

Stephen Brunelle, 54, will appear before a judge on July 18 to learn his sentence once probation officials complete an assessment and recommend punishment.

Brunelle pleaded guilty to criminal threatening and reckless conduct on May 11 for pointing a gun at his son-in-law in his Newmarket home last June 24, 2011, according to court records.

Newmarket police were called to an apartment on Lincoln Avenue after Brunelle’s daughter told a police dispatcher that her father, “had just entered her apartment and threatened her husband with a gun,” a police affidavit says.

After Brunelle threatened son-in-law Edward Hutchins, he fled the scene in his Jeep Cherokee, police said.

Hutchins told police he was sleeping in his bedroom when he was awakened by a man standing over him pointing a shotgun at his head.

“He described the shotgun as camouflaged in color and being a pump style shotgun,” Tara Laurent, who is now the Greenland police chief, said in an affidavit. “He stated that the male subject who was pointing the shotgun at his (head) was wearing a camouflaged face mask.”

The man, later identified by police as Brunelle said, “You’re going to die (expletive)!” and ordered Hutchins to get on his stomach, Laurent said in the affidavit.

“No more chances. I’m going to put a slug in your forehead,” Brunelle said, according to police.

Hutchins reminded Brunelle there was a two-month old baby in the home, police said. Brunelle then left the apartment.

A county-wide be-on-alert message was sent out to police before Brunelle was pulled over in Brentwood along Route 125 around 11:35 p.m., the affidavit said.

Brentwood police Sgt. Denny Wood spotted Brunelle’s silver Jeep and spotted the Winchester 12-gauge shotgun in plain view once he pulled the vehicle over. Police have not said why they believe Brunelle threatened Hutchins.

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James A. Kimble may be reached at JKimble@newstote.com.