By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — A man who held police at bay during a barricaded standoff was sentenced Monday to two years in prison, a penalty considerably less than the potential life sentence originally faced.
John Joseph Christiner, 40, pleaded guilty last month to four felony charges rather than face an anticipated jury trial. On Feb. 12 Christiner pleaded guilty to four of 10 counts he’d been charged with: assault with a dangerous weapon — which carries a potential four-year punishment — along with felony firearm possession, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and aggravated domestic assault. Additional charges that were dismissed by the court included assault with intent to commit murder, which carries a potential penalty of life in prison.
Christiner was also sentenced to three years of probation; since his arraignment in October Christiner has served 155 days for which he will be given time-served credit.
Police were called to Christiner’s house in the 1500 block of Cleophus at 3 a.m. on Sept. 30 in response to a domestic situation. Christiner had assaulted his wife and son and was outside when police arrived, armed with a long gun. He retreated inside and kept his wife and son with him while negotiating his eventual surrender to police.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)