MARION—In a move that seems to be occurring more frequently in sentencing, Marion County Common Pleas Court Judge Warren Edwards sentenced a defendant to more time in prison than requested in a joint recommendation made by the defense and prosecuting attorneys and agreed to by the pleading defendant.

Marion Prosecutor Ray Grogan issued the following statement after Edward’s sentenced William Daniels, 20, of Columbus, to up to 20 years in prison:

“Daniels’ crime spree wreaked havoc in our community that morning,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan. “This event could have turned out much worse, and Marion has zero-tolerance for this kind of violence in our community; now Daniels will have many years in prison to think about that,” said Grogan.

On August 25, 2021, Daniels held a woman at gunpoint and demanded that she drive him to different addresses where he could then break into vehicles and take property from them.

At one point, Daniels broke into a home in order to steal keys to a vehicle. A short time later, a Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy saw Daniels at one point, and Daniels ran into a field and fired shots at the officers.

“I would like to thank the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Marion, OH, specifically, Captain Jason Dutton and Deputy John Endicott, who were shot at while trying to approach Daniels, and Sheriff Matt Bayles, who was out in the field side-by-side with his deputies looking for Daniels, Marion, Ohio Police Department, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost – BCI lab for all of their work on this case,” Grogan said.

Upon further investigation, Crawford County Now learned that all but two felony charges were dropped against Daniels as part of a plea negotiation. Daniels was on felony probation out of Franklin County when he commented on the new crimes.

While in custody in the Marion Jail, he was charged with infractions, including assault.

In sentence recommendation documents signed by Grogan and Daniel’s attorney, the joint sentence recommendation was between 12-16 years in prison.

On March 24, Judge Edwards sentenced Daniels to 20 years in prison.