A Newbern man who turned himself in to police after a two-day search in October 2006 will spend three years in prison.

Law enforcement officers began looking for Marshall Franklin Metz Jr., 46, the night of Oct. 18, 2006, after it was reported that he may have shot at his wife during a domestic dispute.

When officers showed up at Metz's home, they were told by family members that he was inside and refused to leave. Officers forced their way inside but did not find Metz. They said at the time they believed he escaped into some nearby woods.

Two days later, Metz turned himself in.

He was charged with attempted malicious wounding, use of a firearm during an attempted malicious wounding and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Metz's case was scheduled to be heard by a jury on Monday. Instead, Metz pleaded no contest to the gun possession charge at a hearing Friday. The other two charges were dropped.

According to Pulaski County Circuit Court records, Metz was sentenced to serve three years of a five-year prison term and fined $1,000. Upon his release from prison, he must spend three years on supervised probation.

-- Shawna Morrison