Torrington man enters guilty plea in weapons case

TORRINGTON – A city man arrested and charged with illegally possessing weapons on multiple occasions will serve six years in prison after admitting that he violated his probation.

Louis E. McBurney, then 58, of Brook Street, Torrington, was arrested May 23 and charged with thirddegree larceny, interfering with an officer, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, improper use of marker plate, seconddegree breach of peace and operating an unregistered motor vehicle, city police said at the time.

This was one of a series of recent arrests, state attorney David Shepack said Friday.

McBurney was arrested on motor vehicle and weapon-related charges several times in 2017, and was found in possession of a BB gun, four pocket knives, five boxcutters, and a knife when stopped by Torrington police, Shepack said.

The underlying offense prompting the violation of probation charge was a June 2009 conviction, Shepack said.

According to past reporting, McBurney was sentenced in June 2009 to three-and-a-half years in prison after pointing a pistol at a man in a Torrington drive-thru.

Police seized a series of weapons from McBurney in that case, including knives, BB guns, an expandable baton, an ASM 44-cal. black powder revolver and two black Gammo semi-automatic .177 cal. BB and pellet guns.

Under the terms of the plea agreement discussed Friday, McBurney would be sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after six, with the balance on probation. He has pending matters to resolve in GA-18 court proceedings.

The conditions of probation discussed included substance abuse and mental health evaluation and treatment and a prohibition from possessing weapons.

McBurney noted Friday that he was taking medication for his mental health. According to past reporting, he was not doing so during the incident that led to his conviction in June 2009.

After his plea was accepted by Judge Kari Dooley, McBurney said that he has two young grandchildren and would like to see them grow up.

“It's time for me to cut the bologna,” said McBurney.