A Hickory man will serve an active prison term of eight to 13 years following his conviction for assaults on a law enforcement officer during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, February 25, 2019.
Barry Talmadge Hildebran, 48, was sentenced to serve his prison time by the Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, after pleading guilty to assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Hildebran will serve the prison sentence in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
The offenses occurred February 12, 2016, when Deputy Scott Gay of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office tried to serve a warrant on Hildebran at the residence where the defendant was staying.
Deputy Gay observed Hildebran attempting to climb out of a second-story window. Deputy Gay announced “Sheriff’s Office.” At that time, Hildebran pointed a shotgun at the deputy, who ran back to his patrol car while radioing for help, and grabbed his AR-15 rifle.
Hildebran then jumped from the window and again pointed his weapon toward the deputy. Gay and Hildebran fired their weapons simultaneously. Deputy Gay’s bullet shattered the wooden stock of the shotgun and struck Hildebran’s hand. Hildebran then ran toward Lake Hickory and jumped in, attempting to swim away but eventually swam back to the shoreline.
Later, as Hildebran was being taken into custody, he attempted to pull a knife on deputies.
Hildebran’s charge for possession of a firearm by felon stemmed from an October 2013 larceny after breaking/entering conviction in Cleveland County.
The cases were investigated by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Melanie Earles prosecuted the cases for the State.
CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org