Elderly WNC man sentenced for assaulting officer

An elderly Western North Carolina has been found guilty of stalking and assaulting a police officer. 72 year old, Earl Phillips was charged after being found near a Haywood County home, he had already been ordered to stay away from.

Haywood County Deputies responded in February of last year and found Phillips in his truck near the home. Court records say Phillips pointed a gun at a deputy who approached him.

He then dropped the hand gun after being commanded to, but resisted while being handcuffed. He was found guilty of stalking, assaulting an officer and resisting arrest.

Phillips will serve between a minimum of 5 years and a max sentence of 7 years.