JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 28-year-old Mt. Vernon man was sentenced Wednesday in Jefferson County court to 21-years in prison after he negotiated a plea on several felony cases against him, including one for holding a woman in her home at gunpoint.

Joseph Welch was charged in the case with Class X felony armed home invasion, and Class 1 felony residential burglary. He pleaded guilty to the home invasion charge in exchange for the burglary charge being dismissed.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, in November 2017, a woman walked into their office and reported being held at gunpoint on Nason Lane.

An Ina woman, Treva Miller was the first person arrested in that case but law enforcement continued searching for Welch. Miller pleaded guilty to a home invasion charge over the summer and was sentenced to 21-years in prison.

Welch was already facing charges in Jefferson County for felony leaving an accident, receiving or possessing a stolen vehicle, and delivery of meth.

The meth case was dismissed and he received 3-years and one-year concurrent sentences on the stolen vehicle and accident cases respectively.