***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2014

ELKHART JURY CONVICTS SERIOUS VIOLENT FELON WHO HID HANDGUN, COCAINE IN BABY SEAT

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

On June 18, 2014 a jury convened in the Elkhart County Circuit Court convicted Antyon L. Buford, 36, of three felony counts. Buford was charged with possession of cocaine weighing over three grams with intent to deliver, a Class A felony; possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Class B felony; and maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony; for incidents relating to a short-term Elkhart Police Department drug investigation in May 2013.

On May 9, 2013 Elkhart Police Drug Unit officers responded to Buford’s residence to investigate reported drug activity. Buford was inside the residence with another individual, who had a pending arrest warrant. When officers knocked and announced their presence, Buford ran upstairs. Officers learned that Buford also had a pending arrest warrant. Officer arrested both men and obtained a search warrant for the residence, as marijuana was observed in plain view. During the execution of the search warrant, officers found over 9 grams of cocaine and a handgun hidden upstairs in a baby car seat. Officers also found evidence of drug distribution in Buford’s upstairs bedroom.

In a bifurcated trial, the jury was first asked to reach a verdict on the cocaine and common nuisance charges. After convicting Buford of both of those counts, the jury reconvened and heard evidence that Buford was convicted of dealing in cocaine in February 1999. That conviction rendered Buford a “serious violent felon” by law, prohibiting him from legally possessing a firearm. The jury quickly reached a verdict on the firearm charge, as the cocaine was found with the firearm in the baby seat. The case was presented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Francisco.

Buford is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2014 in the Elkhart County Correctional Facility at 9:00am. Buford faces a maximum sentence of 73 years of incarceration.

***

“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”