by Al Summers
News Editor • alsummers@timescourier.com
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James C. Sluder, who led law enforcement officers on a week-long manhunt at the beginning of October, has entered a plea of guilty to three counts of burglary, three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession of a machine gun, one count of misdemeanor obstruction, one count of simple battery, and one count of cruelty to children in the third degree.
Sluder made his plea Monday, Oct. 30, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years probation. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and pay restitution.
District Attorney Joe Hendricks told the Times-Courier, “The 10 year prison sentence in this case sends a message that there are serious consequences to the kind of conduct Mr. Sluder engaged in during his week long flight from authorities.
“The people of Gilmer County should be proud of the outstanding effort given by the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department and the other law enforcement agencies which assisted in Sluder’s apprehension.”