An Edinburgh man will not serve time in prison after police seized drugs from his home and, a year later, had a standoff with police after a pursuit.
Thomas C. Burton, 56, 4110 W. County Road 500N, received a seven-year sentence, which he will serve in a community corrections program.
Police seized more than 25 pounds of marijuana during a May 29, 2014, search of Burton’s home, as well as 5 ounces of cocaine, methamphetamine and about $21,000 in cash. Police also confiscated more than 30 firearms.
One year later, on May 31, 2015, Burton led police on a vehicle pursuit after deputies attempted to question him about a suspected break-in in Taylorsville. When Burton stopped, he refused to get out of his vehicle and was holding a 12-gauge shotgun to his chin.
After an hour of negotiation, police used beanbag rounds to stun him after he took a step outside of his vehicle, and was arrested.
A Bartholomew County judge agreed to a plea agreement that capped the maximum sentence at eight years and also considered Burton’s failing health, including complications caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and a heart condition, his criminal record of two misdemeanor convictions that are more than 20 years old and a federal fine of more than $16,000.