Toledoan enters plea in shooting

9/13/2012

A Toledo man initially charged with felonious assault after it was believed he fired a gun at police officers has entered a plea in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to a misdemeanor count after further investigation showed he was not targeting the officers.

Bryan Terrance, 25, of 1017 Campbell St., entered an Alford plea on Tuesday to discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, a misdemeanor of the fourth-degree. Judge Frederick McDonald immediately sentenced him to the maximum of 30 days in jail and gave him credit for the time he has served in custody since his May arrest.

Assistant County Prosecutor Andy Lastra said that Mr. Terrance was arrested after he fired a shot at about 3:30 a.m. May 15 outside a home in the 1100 block of Tecumseh Street. Although the officers initially believed Mr. Terrance was firing at them, subsequent investigation led them to determine that they were not being shot at, Mr. Lastra said.

In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence or does not admit he committed a crime, but acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a conviction. The court treats it as a guilty plea.