14-year-old who fired gun at police officer pleads

CEDAR RAPIDS — A 14-year-old — who stole a 9 mm handgun from a car, broke into a convenience store, fired the gun inside another convenience store and at a Hiawatha police officer — pleaded guilty to all charges Thursday as a youthful offender.

Christopher McDaniel was waived to adult (district) court after being arrested May 2 and prosecuted as a youthful offender — meaning his sentencing will be delayed until he turns 18.

The Linn County Juvenile Court will order that McDaniel be sent to the Boys State Training School in Eldora until he is 18. He then will go before a district judge who will decide to discharge him, defer sentence or sentence him to prison or probation.

The teen appeared in court Thursday with his lawyer and pleaded guilty to attempted murder of a peace officer and intimidation with a dangerous weapon with intent, both felonies. His guardian didn’t attend the hearing.

Patrick McMullen, McDaniels’ lawyer, said he would file written guilty pleas to other charges: third-degree burglary-non-vehicle, a Class D felony; and third-degree burglary-vehicle, use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, first-degree harassment and third-degree criminal mischief, all aggravated misdemeanors; and persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, a serious misdemeanor.

Those pleas were filed after the hearing.

If McDaniel, at age 18, is sentenced to prison, he faces up to 40 years on the three felonies and up to 10 years on the misdemeanors. His lawyer would likely argue for a lesser sentence because of his age at the time of the offense.

During the hearing, 6th Judicial District Senior Judge Patrick Grady went over the elements of the crimes and explained McDaniel’s rights to him.

McDaniel admitted to firing the 9 mm handgun, which was stolen from a vehicle in Hiawatha, in the Big 10 Mart at 1225 Boyson Rd. in Hiawatha, while people were in the convenience store. He also admitted to firing the gun twice at Hiawatha police Officer Brett Bartels with the intent to kill him.

During the plea, McDaniels said juvenile court had placed him at Four Oaks and he escaped on the day he committed the offenses.

According to criminal complaint, McDaniel on May 2 stole a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 mm firearm, valued between $750 and $1,500, from a vehicle belonging to Jacob Haan at 102 Oak St., Hiawatha.

He then broke into the BP convenience store, at 300 Blairs Ferry Rd. in Hiawatha, while it was closed, causing window damage estimated at between $750 and $1,500, and stole items from the store.

McDaniel then went to the Big 10 Mart, where he threatened Logan Bates with the 9 mm gun in the parking lot before going inside and firing shots into the ceiling while customers were in the store.

When Hiawatha police arrived at the scene, McDaniels, aiming the handgun at Bartels, fired twice, the complaint stated.

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