A former Delaware man was sentenced to jail and probation Thursday after pleading guilty to charges related to firing a gun and threatening his neighbor last year.
Nathaniel Clark, 26, formerly of 173 Silver Maple Drive, who is currently living in Thornville, Ohio, was in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Thursday morning where he was sentenced by Judge David Gormley to 21 days in jail, a $500 fine, 40 hours of community service and three years of probation.
Clark was being sentenced for inducing panic, a fifth-degree felony; a charge of using weapons while intoxicated, a first-degree misdemeanor; and aggravated menacing, also a first-degree misdemeanor.
Gormley added that Clark is not permitted to use any firearms, alcohol or any illegal drugs during his three-year probation period.
Gormley said Clark could face up to nine months in prison and additional jail time if he violates the terms of probation.
Clark’s problems began on April 23, 2015, when he was intoxicated and fired a handgun at his Silver Maple Drive residence, Clark told Gormley. Prosecutors said that when the shots were reported, the Delaware County SWAT team was called to respond, costing the county a significant sum in overtime hours for the police officers.
Then, on the night of June 13, 2015 — nearly two months after Clark was arrested for inducing panic — Clark and a friend, Shadow Arthur, 23, of Marion, were drinking and got into an argument with Clark’s neighbor, Roger Porter. During the argument, the men threatened Porter, who was a witness in the ongoing felony case against Clark from April.
Porter died in November.
Charges of intimidation of a witness, a third-degree felony, against both men were dropped as part of plea negotiations with prosecutors. A charge of menacing by stalking, a fourth-degree felony, against Clark was also dropped.
Arthur was sentenced to three years of probation with a potential fine and prison time if he violates the terms of probation. Arthur had pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor, in January.
Arthur told Gormley that since the incident he has tried to behave and become a better father for his daughter.
Gormley urged Arthur to continue with the right attitude and make good choices in the future.
Both men were both indicted on the intimidation and menacing charges on June 19, 2015.
