22-year-old man pleads guilty to attempted murder of father

YOUNGSTOWN -- A North Benton man pleaded guilty to attempted murder and felonious assault before Judge Maureen A. Cronin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Prosecutors said Daniel R. Henkel, 22, of North Benton West Road, attempted to kill his father, James Henkel, on Feb. 28. Daniel pleaded guilty Wednesday. A jury trial in Judge Cronin's court was to begin that day.
Prosecutors said the Henkel family was at home Feb. 28 when the power went out. James Henkel went to the basement in the dark to check the electrical box, and Daniel was waiting there and stabbed him. Daniel is the Henkels' adopted son and has a long history of mental illness, prosecutors said.
Judge Cronin said the sentence for attempted murder could be three to 10 years, and the sentence for felonious assault could be two to eight years. The maximum sentence for both would be 10 years, however, because the law requires the sentences to be served concurrently.
Judge Cronin also advised Daniel Henkel she could fine him $20,000 for the attempted murder charge and $15,000 for the felonious assault charge.