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Orange County jury sends man to prison for 50 years for shooting at deputies in 2020

He will have to serve at least 25 years before he is eligible for parole.

ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — A jury convicted and sentenced a man this week for firing several shots at Orange County deputies nearly three years ago.

Joshua Michael Sykes, 39, was sentenced Thursday to 50 years behind bars after an Orange County jury found him guilty of aggravated assault of a peace officer according to prosecutor Reese Rhodes.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The above video first aired in April 2020.)

Sykes was originally charged with attempted capital murder and aggravated assault on a peace officer, both of which are first-degree felonies.

He was convicted in 163rd District Court before judge Rex Peveto of the lesser charge of aggravated assault on a peace officer.

On April, 1, 2020, Orange County deputies were investigating a report of a man brandishing a gun in the 7200 block of Highway 12, just west of Mauriceville.

When deputies arrived Skyes fired several rounds at them, one of which hit a patrol unit. No deputies were injured and Sykes was arrested without more shots being fired.

Credit: OCSD

The offense is a "3G" offense, meaning; Sykes will have to serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole Rhodes told 12News . 

"I believe that the sentence that was given by the jury is justice and I appreciate their attentiveness during this trial. I'm satisfied at the results that we were able to get justice for the victim and the county," Rhodes told 12News on Friday.

He will get credit for the time he has been in jail.

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