FARMINGTON – A Superior Court justice approved an order Friday to release a Jay man accused of shooting at police last spring to federal custody.

William C. Burhoe, 51, 309 Macomber Road, who pleaded not guilty to aggravated attempted murder and reckless conduct in a Farmington court, was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court on Sept. 7 on a charge of possession of a firearm after a mental health commitment.

Burhoe is scheduled to be arraigned on the federal charge Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Justice S. Kirk Studstrup approved the order Friday that states for procedural reasons the parties agree that it is appropriate to transfer the defendant to federal custody for disposition of the federal charges prior to disposition of pending state charges.

Burhoe has remained at the Franklin County jail in Farmington on $300,000 cash bail or $600,000 worth of real estate after he was released from the hospital following the June incident in Jay.

Police were called to Burhoe’s home in June for a domestic dispute.

When police responded, Burhoe fired his gun at them, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said. State Trooper Randy Keaten ended the confrontation by shooting Burhoe in the leg.

The Maine Office of the Attorney General cleared Keaten of any wrongdoing.

Burhoe’s attorney, Woody Hanstein, previously said the state’s evidence does not support the seriousness of the aggravated attempted murder charge and the high bail because his client is an excellent shot and passed up the open shots he could have taken at police and fired at a building. His client also had bullets left in his gun, Hanstein had said, and didn’t use them.