LEWISTON — An Auburn man was sentenced to seven years in prison for shooting a Lewiston man in the hip last year.
Gerald B. Burnsworth submitted photo
Gerald B. Burnsworth, 30, pleaded guilty last month to elevated aggravated assault, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but eight years of that were suspended.
Burnsworth also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but will serve that at the same time as the assault sentence.
Prosecutors dismissed two other charges stemming from the Sept. 15 shooting of Nathan Vining, 28, in the pelvis at an apartment complex at 64 Oxford St.
After Burnsworth’s release from prison, he will be on probation for four years during which he must not have any alcohol or illegal drugs for which he can be searched and tested at random.
He will be barred from having any dangerous weapons and firearms for which he can be searched any time.
Burnsworth must undergo evaluation, counseling and treatment for substance abuse.
He may not have any contact during those four years with Vining, who wrote in a letter to the judge that he forgave Burnsworth for his actions, but will never forget what he did.
Burnsworth also pleaded guilty to an unrelated drug trafficking charge for which he was sentenced to two years in prison, which he will serve at the same time as the assault sentence.
He forfeited ownership of $1,421 in cash seized by authorities after his arrest.
Prosecutors also dismissed charges brought in two other unrelated cases against Burnsworth.
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