A judge on Friday denied bond for a woman accused of shooting her husband while he was in bed and rejected her guilty plea because it was premature.

Alleging that she had shot her sleeping husband at point-blank range, Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins called Robin D. Sands a danger to the community. Associate Circuit Court Judge Keith Marquart agreed and remanded her to the Buchanan County Jail without bond.

Appearing through a video transmission, Ms. Sands, 36, spoke at the first opportunity.

“Your honor, I would just prefer to plead guilty and move on,” she said.

Mr. Marquart said he could not take her plea in an arraignment hearing. He said he would make her apply for a public defender to ensure she is aware of her rights. Ms. Sands said she already had the application for a public defender.

Police allege in court documents that Ms. Sands called 911 on Aug. 8 after she had shot her husband in the back as he slept. She told the 911 operator she had shot her husband, according to the documents. Police said their subsequent investigation showed the shooting was not an accident.

Ms. Sands faces a charge of murder in the second degree, a Class A felony. The charge carries a sentence of 10 to 30 years or life in prison.

Ms. Sands’ otherwise stoic voice quivered just once when Mr. Marquart asked her children’s ages. “Eleven, 5, and 3,” she said.

Police said the children were in the family’s home at about 6 a.m. when their father, Randal L. Sands, 40, was killed. Emergency medical workers pronounced him dead in the home at 2013 S. 11th St.

Mr. Sands worked at Johnson Controls and attended Riverside Church, his obituary said. In court, Ms. Sands said she is a lifelong St. Joseph resident and an employee at American Family Insurance.

She will next appear before Mr. Marquart this Friday at 10 a.m. to determine whether her public defender application is approved. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m.

Ahmad Safi can be reached

at ahmadsafi@npgco.com.