A Lakeview man who was convicted by a jury on 22 felonies of the first, second and third degrees and 20 firearms specifications for his part in a 12-hour stand-off that occurred at his home learned his fate Monday, May 19.
Holley Edward Tolliver, 58, of 11331 Big Bear Path, received a sentence of 125-130.5 years in prison by Judge Kevin P. Braig Monday afternoon in Logan County Common Pleas Court.
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, 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 the standoff, they apprehended Tolliver. No officers or neighbors were physically injured during the ordeal.
Tolliver sustained a broken arm from a gun shot 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 clearly 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.
Through Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds, the members of the Logan County law enforcement community submitted a written statement to Judge Braig asking the court “to prevent [Tolliver] from terrorizing our communities for as long as possible.”
“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,” the statement read. “It is easily forgotten that whether you are a Sheriff’s Deputy, Police Officer, or Trooper, you are still human. We are fathers, husbands, sons and brothers just like everyone else.”
Judge Braig thanked about a dozen 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.
Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart said the long sentence issued to Tolliver was appropriate for the defendant’s actions.
“It was justified for his actions that day,” Stewart said. “For what (Tolliver) did, the sentence was justified and I think that law enforcement feels like that justice was served for them for the danger he put their lives in.”