MORROW COUNTY, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Prosecutor Andrew Wick held a significant news conference Friday at noon at the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, joined by Sheriff John Hinton and Fraternal Order of Police President and Marion Chief Jay McDonald. Wick commenced the event by stating that he had prepared a statement and would not take questions from reporters.
In his address, Wick expressed gratitude to the community for their prayers and ongoing support, urging them to continue praying for the family of fallen Deputy Daniel Sherrer, as well as for the community at large. Sherrer was killed when he responded to a domestic violence call in Marengo.
Wick emphasized the commitment of his office to ensure that crimes against police officers in Morrow County would face the most severe penalties possible. He revealed plans to set high bonds in these cases, preventing those accused of crimes against law enforcement from being released from jail. Furthermore, he stressed that the law enforcement community will strive for maximum prison sentences in these instances, calling on fellow prosecutors across the state to join in this effort.
“These are our front lines. We must have their backs,” Wick stated.
The prosecutor highlighted the need for a collaborative approach between prosecutors and law enforcement to make the consequences of crimes against police officers significantly more severe. “We must make the cost too high,” Wick said.
Wick announced that a Morrow County grand jury had returned a 14-count indictment against accused murderer Brian Wilson, detailing serious charges including:
- Aggravated murder of a deputy (with three specifications qualifying it for the death penalty)
- Aggravated premeditated murder in the killing of Deputy Daniel Sherrer (also carrying three specifications for the death penalty)
- Felony murder related to felonious assault on a police officer
- Felonious assault on a police officer
- Felonious Assault on a Police Officer with a deadly weapon
- Attempted murder of the defendant’s brother-in-law
- Attempted aggravated murder of the defendant’s brother-in-law
- Felonious assault on the defendant’s brother-in-law
- Domestic violence with a prior conviction
- Unlawful discharge of a firearm into a habitation
- Unlawful discharge of a firearm across a public roadway
- Possession of firearms as criminal tools
- Possession of firearms as criminal tools
- Discharge of a firearm while intoxicated.
Wick noted that counts one through eleven each carry an additional gun specification, adding a mandatory three-year sentence to any other prison time served.
Wick told the conference that he had consulted with Deputy Sherrer’s family and law enforcement before announcing his intention to seek the death penalty against Wilson. Wick stressed that the charges are still allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Quoting Proverbs 21:15, Wick stated, “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
In closing, he reaffirmed his commitment, saying, “I stand committed with my office and our law enforcement community to seek justice for the fallen Deputy Daniel Sherrer and the law enforcement community in Morrow County and abroad.”
The last death sentence in Ohio was handed down in 2018. Currently, there are 116 inmates on the state’s death row.
Marion County Now will continue to follow this developing story.