FORT SMITH — A judge has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a man who pleaded guilty to first-degree battery in the November shooting of a Fort Smith police officer.
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Michael Fitzhugh told Tristan Honey Wednesday that he was fortunate that retired Cpl. Barney Parsons approved of the plea agreement Honey reached with prosecutors.
The Southwest Times Record reports that Parsons was shot as he tried to stop the driver of a pickup truck, later identified as Honey, that ran a stop sign Nov. 1. Authorities say Parsons was struck in his right leg and foot, and body armor protected him from bullets that were fired at his chest.
Honey’s attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Thursday.