A 36-year-old Burkeville man was sentenced to 10 years in jail with seven years suspended on charges of unlawful wounding and non-violent felony possession of a gun.

Prince Edward County Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark said Tariq Hassan Kirby was originally charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a non-violent felony with such prior conviction being over 10 years old.

“Through plea negotiations, the defendant agreed to enter Alford pleas to the amended charge of unlawful wounding — originally malicious wounding — and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a non-violent felony with such prior conviction being over 10 years old,” Clark said. “With the amendment of the malicious wounding charge to unlawful wounding, the charge of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony was no longer a viable charge and the commonwealth asked the court to dismiss the charge.”

Clark said an Alford plea has the same effect of a guilty plea.

“(The) defendant states that he feels the commonwealth has enough evidence to convict him of the crimes charged and he does not want to risk going to trial,” Clark said.

She said evidence showed Kirby was involved in an argument with his wife, during which his wife became fearful and retrieved the family’s firearm. At that time, Clark said evidence showed Kirby took the firearm from her and hit her in the head with it, causing a laceration.

“The defendant was sentenced to an active period of incarceration of three years: five years with two years suspended on the unlawful wounding, and five years all suspended on the possession of a firearm by a felon,” Clark said.

She said Kirby’s suspended portion of his sentence would remain suspended conditioned on 13 years of good behavior, two years of supervised probation, following terms of probation, no contact with the victim and payment of the costs of the court proceedings.