A Western North Carolina man will spend at least the next three decades in prison after a domestic incident led to a standoff with deputies.
Court records say, 49 year old Steven Hawkins was convicted Monday on charges of four counts of assault on an officer, violating a domestic violence protection order while armed and a weapons violation.
The charges stem from an incident in April in 2024, when the Haywood County Sheriff's Office responded to a home in Canton. Hawkins had went to a home in Canton and demanded to see his ex-wife, which violated the protection order and she called 9-1-1.
Hawkins was armed with a 12 gauge shotgun. Court records say, Hawkins told a deputy he would have to kill him. He then threatened to harm the K-9 deputy on scene and himself.
Deputies initially fired beanbag rounds at Hawkins. He was hit but took off running. Deputies then fired on Hawkins, he was hit and was airlifted to a local hospital to be treated.
Hawkins has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years and could serve a maximum of 41 years.