Dayton Man Pleads Guilty To Assaulting His Mom

DAYTON - A Dayton man was sentenced to 60 days in Columbia County Jail for pleading guilty to domestic violence offenses against his mother.

Judge William Acey sentenced Tony Burruss to 60 days in jail after Burruss plead guilty to one count of unlawful imprisonment, assault in the fourth degree and malicious mischief in the third degree.

Burruss was arrested on Jan. 14 after he got in an argument with his mother. According to Burruss' statement read in court Thursday by Acey, on Jan. 14 Burruss restrained his mother and assaulted her. He also broke some of her property.

Burruss told Acey he and his mother had been engaged in a long-standing argument over whether he was permitted in her home, which Burruss believes his late father left in his name.

Burruss' Defense Attorney Dale Slack said Mrs. Burris did not want anything said on her behalf at the sentencing.

" Mr. Burruss loves his mother very much," Slack said on his client's behalf. "I'm sure he wishes this relationship can be repaired in the future. He does want her to know he loves her very much."

Columbia County Prosecutor Rea Culwell said Burruss' guilty pleas were part of a bargain. She said the defendant and the prosecutor agreed that if he plead guilty to one of the unlawful imprisonment charges as well as the assault and malicious mischief charges, two of the unlawful imprisonment charges would be dropped.

Burruss is a first-time offender and could have spent up to 364 days in jail. However, Acey sentenced him to serve 60 days and issued a 5-year no contact order between Burruss and his mother. A permanent civil no contact order already existed.

Because Burruss had been in Columbia County Jail since Jan. 14, Culwell said he will be out on March 4. But, Acey has the option to give Burruss the rest of the 364 days if he gets in trouble again. Burruss will also be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections for 6 to 12 months.

"If you have a legal beef with your mom, take her to court," Acey advised Burruss at the sentencing. "Don't take the law into your own hands. Take her to court."