Man receives 90 days in jail, 5 years' probation, $17K fine for assaulting deputy

A Sneedville man accused of fighting a deputy during a 2022 burglary investigation was sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years on probation in exchange for guilty pleas that included aggravated assault on an officer.

Billy Joe Burton, 42, 255 Byrd Creek Road, Sneedville, was also ordered to pay $17,403 in fines and fees.

Burton appeared before Judge John Dugger in Hawkins County Criminal Court on Dec. 13, 2024, and pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault on a first responder, evading arrest, and misdemeanor meth possession, which was reduced from possession of meth with intent to deliver.

Two counts of resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.

On May 16, 2022, around 1 a.m., Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dustin Winter responded to a report of a possible burglary in progress on Pumpkin Valley Road, which is located north of Rogersville on the north side of Clinch Mountain.

Winter stated in his report that he observed Burton seated in a vehicle with a female.

At Winter’s request, the couple stepped out of their vehicle and stood in front of his patrol car. When Winter asked Burton if he was armed, Burton stated he had two knives on him. Winter removed a box-cutter from one of his pockets, but as Burton went to reach into his right front pocket Winter saw a baggy containing narcotics.

Winter reported that he grabbed Burton by the arm and attempted to place handcuffs on him, but Burton was able to pull away. Winter hit him in the back with his taser as Burton attempted to run, but it had no effect on him.

Winter chased Burton down the road and was able to grab him, but during the struggle both fell over a two-strand barbed-wire fence. As Winter was getting up, he drew his pistol and pursued Burton about another 20 feet before Burton stopped. Burton then grabbed Winter’s left arm and attempted to grab his other arm, which was holding his pistol.

During the struggle, Winter was able to holster his gun and use pepper spray on Burton, who continued to struggle. Winter said he used defensive tactics that allowed him to subdue Burton. Upon being searched, Burton was found in possession of 1.8 grams of meth and .36 grams of heroin.