Die Hard

Ohio Disciplinary Counsel has filed a complaint involving conduct that led to a guilty plea on felony and misdemeanor charges

The underlying events giving rise to the charges took place on the evening of Saturday, October 29, 2022, and the early morning hours of Sunday, October 30, 2022.

Respondent and his girlfriend (now fiancé), Jennifer Miller, were at a bar, along with Miller’s adult daughter, Brianne Cash, and Cash’s friends, Marissa Wallace and Destiny Oakes (nka Benton).

At some point, respondent, who was intoxicated, became aggravated and belligerent.

The group left the bar, and respondent walked off into the parking lot.

Miller and Benton approached respondent to convince him to leave with them.

In response, respondent slapped Miller and grabbed her by the arm.

Benton confronted respondent to let Miller go, and then respondent attempted to kick at Benton.

Due to his actions, the four women left the bar without respondent.

The women eventually returned to respondent’s home, where respondent and Miller resided.

The conversation shifted to respondent’s numerous guns throughout the house. They decided it would be prudent to hide or remove the guns due to respondent’s conduct earlier that night, his level of intoxication, and the fact that he might soon return.

As Miller came down the stairs to notify the others that she found one of the guns, respondent appeared.

Respondent became enraged, smashed a bottle where the women stood in the kitchen, and began throwing miscellaneous items around the house.

Respondent grabbed Miller by the back of the hair and pulled her over the kitchen island.

Cash came to her mother’s defense and attempted to get respondent to let go of Miller.

Respondent shoved Cash to the ground. Then Benton became involved.

A melee ensued, and Cash grabbed a kitchen knife.

Respondent received a stab wound on the right side of his torso.

The four women exited the front of the house and ran out into the surrounding neighborhood.

Respondent pursued them with a gun.

Benton frantically knocked on doors and rang the doorbells of neighboring homes, triggering various doorbell security cameras to record.

Respondent caught up to Miller and Cash, pointed his gun at them, and held them at point-blank range.

As they begged him not to shoot, respondent attempted to grab and kick at the women. At that point, he lost his footing and fell to the ground.

As Miller and Cash fled, respondent fired one shot into the air.

One neighbor camping in his backyard with his wife and kids that night was awoken by the sounds of the chaos. He moved his family inside to safety and called 911.

After firing his gun, respondent retreated to his home. Police arrived, followed by the Warren Tactical Response Unit (TRU).

Respondent held himself inside the home for several hours, during which he had access to numerous guns.

After failed attempts to negotiate a surrender, the Warren TRU deployed gas canisters through the residence’s windows.

Approximately 30 minutes after the gas was deployed, respondent surrendered himself and was taken into custody.

Respondent was sentenced to probation with a number of conditions and is suspended on an interim basis for the conviction. (Mike Frisch)