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Paraplegic who accused police of brutality put on probation
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
youngstowN
The attorney for a paraplegic who accused two city police officers of brutality said his client just wants to put the incident behind him.
Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. of Youngstown Municipal Court sentenced William Daniel, 36, of High Street, to nine months’ probation and ordered him to pay a $200 fine on a charge of having physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Daniel pleaded no contest and was convicted of the amended charge last month. He was sentenced Friday morning.
At first, Daniel was charged with drunken driving, but the prosecution amended the charge. The maximum penalty on the charge was six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Although police found William Daniel behind the wheel after an accident, Kenneth Daniel said he, not his paralyzed brother, was driving the sport- utility vehicle in the Feb. 27 single-vehicle crash, in which the SUV ran into a fence on Wilson Avenue.
Atty. David Betras, who represents Daniel, said Kenneth Daniel had left to get help and someone called police, saying that William Daniel had a gun.
William Daniel complained that a police officer dragged him out of the SUV, punched him and left him lying face-down in the snow.
After an internal-affairs investigation, Police Chief Jimmy Hughes fired Officer Robert Jolliff, alleged to have assaulted Daniel, and Officer Jay Fletcher, alleged to have neglected his duty to render proper assistance at the accident scene.
Daniel told the judge he’s sorry about what happened. He wasn’t driving the car, but he was intoxicated, he told the judge.
“Whatever you feel is best for me, I’ll step up and be a man and deal with the consequences,” Daniel said.
Betras told Judge Douglas before sentencing that though he doesn’t believe his client should get jail time, he may benefit from alcohol counseling.
“He may have an alcohol problem based on his record,” Betras said.
Judge Douglas didn’t order alcohol counseling as part of Daniel’s probation, saying Daniel is aware of the problem and there are plenty of services available if he decides to address it.
Betras said he and his client are satisfied with the way the situation was handled by the police chief and Mayor Jay Williams.
Betras said his client has “settled the civil differences” he had with the city, but he wouldn’t divulge the contents of that settlement.