Vicksburg Man Sentenced For Aggravated DUI

VICKSBURG, MS. – A Vicksburg man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of Aggravated DUI. John Burton was sentenced by Judge Toni Terrett to 20 years with 10 to serve on both counts to run concurrently.

Back in March 2022, Burton was traveling south on Highway 27 when he entered into the northbound lane and hit a Toyota Tacoma head-on. His passenger, 30-year-old Kiley Goulette, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota was also injured in the crash.

Authorities later discovered that Burton was under the influence of multiple controlled substances, including meth. Attorney John Bullard represented him at his sentencing for the Aggravated DUI charge.

In Mississippi, an Aggravated DUI, also known as DUI Mayhem, occurs when an offender, regardless of prior offenses, causes severe injury to another person. This injury may involve death, mutilation, or disfigurement, such as disabling the tongue, eye, lip, nose, or other organs. A person convicted of aggravated DUI faces a prison sentence of 5 to 25 years. Upon release, the offender must use an IID for at least five years.

Assistant District Attorney Branan Southerland represented the state.

Burton is also currently serving an 8-year sentence for an Identity Theft conviction.