Deputy tells Chicago man who shot him during robbery to use prison time to change his life

CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy William Halverson told a Chicago man, who shot him seven times June 20, 2021 during a Casey’s store robbery in Coggon, that he was “sorry” the man didn’t have the “courage to pull the trigger one more time … because it should have been worse,” as the man told Halverson after the verdict.

Deputy William Halverson, during a victim impact statement, told Stanley Donahue, convicted in February of 10 charges, that he may not care about his actions and whose lives he affected, but those actions forever changed Halverson’s life, as well as the lives of his family, friends, co-workers, citizens of Linn County and two former store clerks.

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He asked Donahue to think about how he can change with “what little life you have left … It’s your choice.“

“It’s OK to feel scared about spending the rest of your life in prison,” Halverson said. “Use your time wisely. Use that time you have there to change your life for the better.”

Donahue, 38, started making comments and cursing at Halverson, who was returning to his seat with his family and friends in the courtroom after making his statement.

Peter Stiefel, Donahue’s attorney, couldn’t make him stop talking and asked for a short recess, which 6th Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns allowed.

As deputies were taking Donahue out of the courtroom for the break, he started mocking Halverson for becoming emotional during his testimony at trial.

After the hearing resumed, Bruns sentenced Donahue to 92 years in prison for his convictions of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, willful injury causing serious injury, attempt to elude, two charges of false imprisonment, trafficking stolen weapons, disarming a peace officer and felon in possession of a firearm.

Donahue faced up 107 years on all 10 charges, but Bruns ran some of the charges concurrently. Donahue must serve a mandatory minimum of 60 years before being eligible for parole.

Bruns said the reasons for the sentences were because Donahue left Halverson with long-term injuries and the trauma he caused Madelyn Stepanek, one of two store clerks who were locked in the cooler during the robbery.

Donahue also has shown no remorse for his actions, which included telling Halverson “It should have been worse,” after the verdict in February, Bruns noted.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks played the video of that exchange during the hearing, in arguing for consecutive sentences.

Bruns also pointed out that Donahue had spent much of his adult life in prison and his crimes seemed to escalate over the years. He feels there is “little chance” of rehabilitation for Donahue. A presentencing report showed he is at high risk to reoffend.

Donahue declined to make a statement during sentencing.

Stiefel asked that all the sentences run concurrently to the 25 year sentence of attempting to kill a peace officer, of which he must serve the entire 25 years. He pointed out mitigating factors including Donahue’s bad childhood and some mental health issues. He said Donahue had been emotionally and sexually abused as a child.

Maybanks asked the court to sentence Donahue to 107 years for his “cold blooded and callousness” actions. He “scarred for life two young, innocent victims” — former Casey’s employees — and Halverson will likely carry this with him for the rest of his life.

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“There’s no indication that Stanley Donahue won’t commit another horrific crime like this again if given an opportunity, and his criminal history demonstrates he will,” Maybanks added.

After the hearing, Maybanks said he appreciated Judge Bruns laying out his reasons for consecutive sentences.

“He shows no remorse and his outburst in court again today demonstrates just that,” Maybanks noted. “This sentence ensures Mr. Donahue will never harm another victim in our community or any other. For that, we are thankful.”

Madelyn Stepanek, also gave a statement during sentencing, saying she will never forget the robbery, which was the “scariest night I have ever experienced.”

Back in June 2021, she had just graduated and was an “18-year-old girl excited to go to college” and working in Coggon, where had grown up — a place she never felt unsafe.

“However, after that night it felt as though a part of my identity and life that I had known was taken away,” Stepanek said. “These crimes flipped our community in a drastic way and it hurt me along with my family for a lifetime.”

Stepanek said she was scared when Donahue fled after the robbery and she couldn’t sleep. Her fear and anxiety led to her having a “breakdown” and having to go to a school therapist for help to work through the trauma.

Stepanek said the most “traumatizing aspect” for her was seeing the gun, along with hearing the gun shots because she and Jacob Christianson, the other store clerk, had been locked in the cooler by Donahue. They couldn’t see what was happening and didn’t know what would happen next. She thought Donahue would come for them.

“He deserves the worst punishment imaginable,” she said.

According to testimony, Donahue entered the convenience store that night and when he went to pay a store clerk, Jacob Christianson, at the front counter, Donahue pointed a gun and said “give me the money.” Christianson pulled out the top dollar bills stacked in the register with a clip and receipt attached, which triggered a silent alarm.

Donahue continued to take numerous cigarette cartons, gift cards, car chargers and other items from the store. He also took Christianson’s wallet and Stepanek’s purse.

Christianson and Stepanek were forced into the cooler and a few minutes later they heard gunshots, both testified.

Halverson, who responded to the alarm, testified he didn’t see a clerk inside and only saw a man — later identified as Donahue — standing at the front counter with a garbage bag over his shoulder. He tried to grab Donahue’s arm to detain him but he pulled away and starting shooting at Halverson.

“It felt like a hundred times,” Halverson said, tearing up as he recalled his thoughts that night. “This isn’t a dream. This is real life.”

Halverson testified that he thought he was going to die. When he was down on the floor, he felt “tugging” on his right side where his .40 caliber Glock was holstered and felt it being removed.

Donahue fled the store before other deputies arrived, but one deputy pursued his van. After Donahue crashed on a bridge in Coggon, deputies found more stolen items, Halverson’s Glock and Donahue’s gun used in the shooting in the van.

Donahue was arrested 14 hours after the robbery when a TV news crew spotted him walking along Aldridge Road in Coggon.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com