A Colbert man waived his right to a trial this week on assault charges and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Donald Joe Shires, 49, was charged in November 2011 with first-degree burglary, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, plus misdemeanor domestic abuse.

As part of a plea agreement, counts one and three were dismissed and count two was amended to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Shires was sentenced to 10 years in prison but three years were suspended. He was also ordered to pay $16,318/49 in restitution.

Shires was charged after the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a stabbing. Deputy Tim Harwood responded to the incident on Sept. 22, 2011, when he was informed that Calvin Grider was being treated for a stab wound at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas.

According to Sheriff’s Investigator John Bates, Grider initially said the wound was accidental and self inflicted.

On Oct. 18 2011, Bates was contacted by District Attorney Investigator David Cathey, who said that Grider had spoken to him and said Shires stabbed him.

Bates and Cathey then went to Grider’s residence in Cartwright to speak to him. Grider, according to the affidavit, said a woman had been staying at his home and that Shires, who had been making threats toward him, was her estranged husband.

Grider said Shires entered the home, slapped the woman and then stabbed him in the abdomen with a steak knife, the affidavit states. Shires then left the home. Grider said he was initially afraid to make a statement when Harwood spoke to him at the hospital.

Bates and Sheriff’s Investigator Nathan Calloway questioned Shires. According to the affidavit, Shires said he had given his wife everything and that she never had to work.

Shires, the affidavit states, said he had been looking for his wife for a week and that he found her at Grider’s residence. He said that when he saw her, she appeared to be on drugs and was preparing to use drugs with Grider.

According to the affidavit, he admitted to entering the residence and stabbing Grider. He then ran from the home after he heard Grider’s brother yell.

In other crimes, several people have been charged with drug crimes this week. Paul Joseph Payne II, 23, Durant, and Camille Dawn Mowles, 34, also of Durant, were charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to court papers, Payne and Mowles were in possession of methamphetamine Oct. 29 in the 900 block of West Alabama Street when searched by Durant Police.

Barry Darnell Ward Jr., 19, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 2,000 feet of a school. Durant Police searched his home in the 1100 block of North Fourth Avenue, and according to an affidavit, officers found marijuana, a set of scales and sandwich baggies.

The affidavit states that upon questioning, Ward said he was selling marijuana to make a little money because college is expensive. “Google Earth” revealed that his home was within 841 feet of the Southeastern campus.