Man who pointed gun at Elyria officers sentenced on felony charges

ELYRIA — A man who was shot and wounded after pointing a gun at two Elyria police officers during an incident two years ago recently was sentenced to a three-week stay in Lorain County Jail and a three-year term on probation after pleading guilty to several felonies. Richard Carlton, 30, received the sentence from Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski. He pleaded guilty to felonious assault, inducing panic and obstruction in July, according to court records. The felonious assault charge was amended from a first-degree felony to a second-degree felony and a firearms specification was dismissed as part of Carlton's plea, records show. Carlton's jail report date also was deferred until the jail's work release program is reinstated, Betleski ordered. The case revolved around an incident in which Carlton, in the midst of a mental health crisis, was firing a gun inside a Riverside Court apartment Oct. 30, 2018. Elyria police Sgt. Jacob Webber and Officer Anthony Weber each received the department's Medal of Valor for their actions during the incident. The officers were responding to the apartment building but couldn't make contact with Carlton, according to Elyria police. As they went looking for the apartment manager and a key, Carlton came out of the apartment and pointed a gun at them. Webber shot Carlton, who sustained a non life-threatening wound, and backup officers arrived to assist. Carlton also was shocked with a Taser device during his arrest, according to Elyria police. Webber and Weber were lauded for their handling of an "extremely hazardous situation," according to their medal citations. They were cleared of any wrongdoing by the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office. The department also presented Police Commendation Medals to dispatchers Elaine Murray and Kierstyn Boddy for calmly handling the tense situation, while officers Gregg Drake, Michael Mullins, Patrick Jama and Ryan Conway were honored for providing Webber with cover and controlling Carlton, who despite his wound continued to struggle with officers during his arrest.