MARQUETTE — James Avery Blevins, 39, of St. Ignace, was sentenced to 2.5 to 5 years in prison in the 11th Circuit Court on charges of felon in possession of a firearm; felon in possession of ammunition; assault with a dangerous weapon, felonious assault, according to a press release from the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office.

Blevins had pleaded guilty to the charges on July 19, with charges of felony firearm; dangerous weapon possession – metallic knuckles; and assault with intent to commit murder dismissed as part of a plea agreement, according to police.

The charges against Blevins stem from a June 3 incident in Mackinac County, when sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence to investigate a report of a felon in possession of a gun at a residence where children were present.

When the two deputies arrived at the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office, they approached and Blevins appeared with a long gun and leveled it at the deputies. One of the deputies then fired his duty weapon, striking Blevins in the hand.

Blevins was then taken into custody and transported to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Search warrants were obtained for the residence and items, and several charges were issued by the prosecution.

After the state police and prosecutor’s office reviewed the incident, the deputies involved ‘were justified in their use of force in this incident and were returned to duty shortly after shooting.”

“We are happy that this matter is now concluded,” said Sheriff Scott Strait in the release. “Deputies train for this regularly and hope that they are never put in this situation. This could have ended very differently, this individual who chose to point a loaded shotgun at a deputy sheriff is very fortunate to be here and the quick reaction by the deputy clearly saved his own life.”