Man in alleged standoff set to plea

A Corning man arrested following a reported standoff with police on Nov. 16 was scheduled to enter a plea to four felony charges on Tuesday, but the hearing was continued to Dec. 12.

Kenneth Blane Eden, 52, has been charged with assault with deadly weapon by force likely to produce great bodily injury, making criminal threats, and two charges of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse oir cohabitant. Additionally, a special allegation of use of firearm is attached to each charge, said the Tehama County Superior Court office.

Eden's bail has been reduced from $550,000 to $260,000.

The standoff began around 2:50 p.m. when Corning police received a report of a man holding a woman at gunpoint at 554 Stanmar Drive in Corning.

Eden eventually released his live-in girlfriend Virginia Burrill, 43, then waited almost an hour before surrendering at 4:15 p.m.

Police said Burrill had bruising to her abdomen and right arm and reported hearing two clicks as Eden held the gun to her head. She also told police that hat he tried to strangle her.