Felony assault charges filed against Ten Sleep man

TEN SLEEP – Michael L. Burrington Jr. of Ten Sleep was bound over on additional charges to district court on two felony counts of aggravated assault and battery for an incident that occurred on Dec. 9, 2019, in Ten Sleep.

These charges were bound over on Jan. 30, approximately four weeks after Burrington was initially charged with a felony charge of taking a deadly weapon into jail and a misdemeanor of wearing or carrying a concealed weapon.

The initial felony charge of bringing a deadly weapon into jail carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison with a fine of up to $10,000, and the misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of $750.

The new charges filed will also carry maximum penalties of 10 years and fines of up to $10,000 for each charge.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, these charges stemmed from an incident on the night that he was arrested that involved two individuals he had been arguing with earlier in the night. The original argument took place in the Big Horn Bar, with the escalating incident involving a .41 magnum Ruger Blackhawk taking place at the corner of Chinese Elm Alley and First Street in Ten Sleep.

According to the affidavit, Burrington originally was overheard “s*** talking” one of the victims over the phone from the second victim’s phone in the bar, and allegedly left the bar making comments referring to blowing off the first victim’s head.

According to the affidavit, the second victim left the bar to search for the other victim and warn him, and arrived at the corner of Chinese Elm Alley and First Street in Ten Sleep and saw Burrington approaching the victim. Burrington and the victims confronted each other and the incident escalated to Burrington allegedly pulling the firearm on the two victims and pointing it at each victim’s head. Burrington was talked down and they went their separate ways. Burrington returned to the Big Horn Bar and was later arrested.

These events preceded the prior charges where the firearm was unable to be detected on Burrington’s person during searches prior to him being booked into the Washakie County Detention Center.

The felony assault charges were filed later upon further investigation into the incident.

Burrington was arraigned in district court, where he entered a not guilty plea on all four charges on Feb. 5, with two separate trial dates being set for June 24 and July 13 at this time.