By Lou Grieco
Dayton Daily News
DAYTON, Ohio — A man shot by police after he struck an officer with his car and who later fled from the hospital where he was being treated, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison.
“God gave me a second chance,” Marlon Wilkinson told Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Frances E. McGee. “I’ve been through a life-changing experience. All I’m asking for is a second chance.”
The incident occurred June 11, 2010. McGee noted that Wilkinson had pleaded guilty to a burglary charge and was given treatment in lieu of conviction in January 2010, “which is a great break to get,” she said.
In less than 30 days, he had failed to live up to some of the conditions and an arrest warrant was issued.
Wilkinson, 19, pleaded guilty June 22 to a single count of felonious assault of a peace officer, a first-degree felony, and could have faced up to 10 years in prison. Under the plea agreement, the two other indicted charges - failure to comply with the order of a peace officer and receiving stolen property - were dismissed.
McGee ordered Wilkinson to pay $372 to Johnathan Miniard, the Dayton police officer who suffered a concussion plus shoulder and knee injuries after Wilkinson backed his vehicle into Miniard.
Miniard was on motorcycle patrol when he spotted a stolen, white Buick LeSabre traveling west on East Third Street near Keowee Street around 11:50 p.m.
When the driver stopped on Clinton Street, Officer Zackary E. Farkas, who was in full uniform, but driving an unmarked car, came to back up Miniard on the stop. Both officers approached the car and ordered the suspect out.
Police said Wilkinson put the car in reverse, accelerated and struck Miniard. Both officers opened fire, officials said, striking the car and Wilkinson several times.
A week later, Wilkinson fled from Miami Valley Hospital and was missing for nearly 90 minutes before police found him at his mother’s residence on Kipling Drive.
Copyright 2011 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.