Judge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas Monday sentenced Holley E. Tolliver to 125 to 130.5 years in prison on his convictions on 22 felonies of the first, second, and third degrees, and 20 firearm specifications.
Tolliver’s convictions arose from shots he fired from his home in August of 2024 that struck neighboring homes and threatened responding law enforcement officers from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, City of Bellefontaine Police Department, and Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Tolliver fired on officers when they deployed drones, robots, and tear gas in attempts to take him into custody.
After a 12-hour standoff, they apprehended Tolliver. No officers or neighbors were physically injured during the ordeal.
Tolliver sustained a broken arm from a gunshot fired by law enforcement as part of their effort to take him into custody.
Judge Braig found that Tolliver’s actions caused the officers and Tolliver’s neighbors significant mental and emotional harm.
He also found that while Tolliver did not have any prior criminal history and had been diagnosed with mental health conditions, experts found that he was competent to stand trial and knew the wrongfulness of his acts at the time he acted.
“This Court has a record of taking a dim view of people shooting up the neighborhood,” Judge Braig said.
County Prosecutor Eric Stewart feels the sentencing was appropriate for the actions Tolliver took.
Through Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds, the members of the Logan County law enforcement community submitted a written statement to Judge Braig:
Your Honor,
As representatives of Logan County Law Enforcement, we believe it is imperative that the court be reminded of the rarity and seriousness of Mr. Tolliver’s actions. Not only is it jointly believed that Mr. Tolliver’s motives and actions were premeditated, but that he fully intended to end the life of as many law enforcement officers as possible.
It is easily forgotten that whether you are a Sheriff’s Deputy, Police Officer, or Trooper, we are still human. We are fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers just like everyone else. All of whom had the potential not to see our loved ones again. That day, we showed up to protect the public from an individual who gave no value to human life.
This incident is unprecedented in Logan County. It is an officer involved shooting case like we have never seen. Never before, has an individual went to such premeditated lengths to ambush and potentially kill a member of the law enforcement community. Never before, has someone so recklessly and intentionally put an entire community in danger.
Digging foxholes, stealing an arsenal of weapons from a neighboring residence, strategically staging assorted weapons and ammunition throughout his home, creating a call for service that law enforcement couldn’t ethically walk away from, and intentionally ignoring every attempt law enforcement made to contact him for a peaceful resolution. These are all examples of Mr. Tolliver’s true intentions that day. These are the same tactics being utilized by terrorists.
The citizens of Logan County are safer because Mr. Tolliver is not a free man. We ask that the court take these facts into consideration to prevent him from terrorizing our communities for as long as possible.
Respectfully,
Logan County Law Enforcement
Judge Braig thanked several law enforcement officers present in the courtroom for their service in successfully resolving the siege.
“Your discharge of your duties during this extremely dangerous incident was patient, persistent, heroic, and compassionate. I am thankful that as a result of your outstanding performance that all of you emerged from it physically unharmed,” Judge Braig said.
