2 sentenced for shooting into apartments, holding guns to heads

Two men were sentenced Friday for shooting into an apartment complex and holding guns to people’s heads.

Maxwell Riley Wilburn, 18, was sentenced to three years in prison by Fayette Circuit Judge Thomas Clark.

Wilburn will be eligible for parole in about six months, said defense attorney Scott Hayworth.

Travis Allen Clark, 23, was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to an amended charge of second-degree wanton endangerment.

The initial charge was attempted murder.

Wilburn pleaded guilty in March to multiple counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Several other counts were dismissed.

According to court documents, Wilburn fired multiple shots from a handgun into at least two apartment windows at Pinebrook Apartments, 3650 Tates Creek Road.

Wilburn also was accused of holding a gun to the head of a woman and a man.

Hayworth sought probation, but Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrea Williams opposed it.

Judge Clark denied probation, saying it would diminish the serious nature of the crime.

“You’re just lucky you don’t face six or seven counts of murder,” he told Wilburn.

Witnesses told police that Travis Clark pointed a gun at a woman in “close proximity” and pulled the trigger. A clicking sound was heard but no bullet was fired, court documents said.

Public defender Herb West said Clark had been cooperative with police and had maintained employment.

“I’m really trying to change my life,” Clark told the judge.

But Judge Clark again denied probation.

That prompted an outburst in the courtroom from Travis Clark’s mother, who said, “A year! That’s my son! What do you mean, a year?”

Bailiffs escorted her and others out of the courtroom as Travis Clark was taken into custody.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 11:22 AM with the headline "2 sentenced for shooting into apartments, holding guns to heads."