Shooting defendant gets sentence Oct. 22
A 24-year-old man who was shot during a gunfire exchange with state troopers in Lyndora says he’s prepared to face up to 30 years in prison.
In fact, Samuel L. Wheeler unsuccessfully asked Butler County Judge William Shaffer to sentence him on Wednesday.
But Wheeler’s feelings on the sentence, which was negotiated as part of a plea arrangement with the Butler County District Attorney’s Office, have wavered in previous weeks.
Wheeler’s appearance in court Wednesday was a response to an earlier request to withdraw from the deal.
“Sometimes clients have a change of heart or the implication of a prison sentence weighs on them,” defense attorney Joseph Smith said of his client’s repeated change of heart.
Wheeler has been in the hospital or prison since March when the incident began at his father’s Bessemer Avenue home.
Wheeler, who allegedly had been arguing with an ex-girlfriend and drinking, argued with his father inside the house and took a “swipe” at him with a hunting knife, according to police and witness reports.
Wheeler allegedly wrestled a loaded 9 mm rifle away from his father and headed into the street. Shortly before 5 a.m., prosecutors believe Wheeler fired the weapon into the air and at an open lot nearby.
Two state troopers who heard the emergency dispatch call responded, took up a position down the street and told him to drop his weapon.
Wheeler allegedly pointed the weapon at two state troopers and fired a shot. Wheeler was struck in the left hand by return fire from one of the officers,
He fled but investigators followed the trail of blood and footprints to the wounded Wheeler lying on nearby Butler Road.
Wheeler pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of assault on a police officer and three counts of terroristic threats. In exchange prosecutors dropped additional charges of attempted homicide and will recommend a 13- to 30-year prison sentence.
The judge refused Wednesday to sentence Wheeler, saying the victims in the case should be given the opportunity to attend.
Instead, Wheeler will be sentenced Oct. 22 and until then he is to remain in the county prison unable to post a $500,000 bond.
