Sheriff Horton, after graduating from West End High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1992 as an Aviation Electronics Technician and honorably served for 4 years until 1996. He then returned to Etowah County and pursued the Family Mortuary Service as a second generational Mortician. In 1999, Sheriff Horton enlisted in the Alabama Army National Guard and served 5 years honorably until 2003. After 9/11 he was called up to Active Duty in the U.S. Army and served 1 year as a Military Police. He returned from Active Duty back to Etowah County and began his Law Enforcement career as a Patrol Deputy under Sheriff James Hayes in 2001.

Over the past 18 years, Sheriff Horton has performed a variety of positions in Local Law Enforcement to include serving as an original member of the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, Chief of Police for the City of Glencoe and Chief of Police for Rainbow City until elected as Sheriff in 2018.