An Ohio father accused of using TikTok to draw his 11-year-old daughter’s alleged rapist to his home before shooting him twice could be sentenced to as many as 18 years in prison, in part because a prior felony conviction barred him from having a gun, The Post has learned.
Malik Chandler, 31, is facing charges of felonious assault and possessing a weapon “under disability” after prosecutors say he shot 20-year-old Diego Montoya Gonzalez during a violent encounter at Chandler’s Grove City residence last month, according to court records.
The “under disability” allegation, which can increase potential prison time, was added because Chandler was prohibited from carrying a firearm in Ohio after a 2010 felony burglary conviction from when he was a minor, said Nya Hairston, communications director for the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Without the weapons-related charge, Chandler would have faced a maximum of 12 years in prison if convicted, along with a possible fine of up to $15,000 under Ohio sentencing guidelines.
Chandler entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment Wednesday, and his family posted $10,000 to secure his bond, his mother told The Post.
Under the terms of his release, Chandler was ordered to wear an electronic monitor and to have no contact with Montoya Gonzalez or his family. The conditions came after prosecutors said Chandler allegedly threatened one of Montoya Gonzalez’s relatives outside the courthouse earlier in the week.
“There was an incident that occurred Monday where the defendant followed the victim’s family during custody arraignments…and threatened to shoot the victim’s brother, like he shot the victim,” prosecutor Megan Farley told the court, according to ABC 6.
Chandler denied the accusation during the hearing, the station reported.
Chandler allegedly shot Montoya Gonzalez after the 11-year-old’s mother discovered a video on their daughter’s phone that showed him sexually assaulting the girl at their family home, according to prosecutors.
The next day, Chandler pretended to be his daughter on TikTok to get Montoya Gonzalez back to their home, where the dad only intended to beat him up, hold him and call police, WNBS reported.
His plan went kaput after Chandler thought he saw the alleged sicko reach for a gun in his pocket, picked up his gun off the counter and opened fire.
When police arrived on the scene, they found Montoya Gonzalez sitting in a chair with two gunshot wounds. He was transported to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, according to WHIO.
Reached by The Post on Wednesday, Chandler’s mother defended her youngest son’s response to the situation.
“I mean, I know why he did it, because that guy sexually assaulted my granddaughter – he raped my granddaughter,” she claimed. “He’s 20 years old – she’s 11. She’s not a legal age for consent, in no way shape, form or fashion.”
When asked if she thinks Chandler would do the same thing again, the mom replied, “I would hope so.”
“Some people say that they don’t play about their kids, they’ll do anything to protect their kids and blah blah blah and they don’t really mean that, but if my kids say it, you can damn well believe they mean it,” she continued. “And that’s good. Your kids are a part of you.”
Montoya Gonzalez was indicted by a grand jury last week on five counts of pandering sexually oriented material, two counts of rape and one count of obstruction of official business.
Prosecutors allege they found several videos on his phone showing the sexual abuse of children — including one clip of an infant or toddler.
Chandler and the girl’s mom were present in the Franklin County Common Pleas Courtroom as Montoya Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday.
Though the judge slapped him with a $20,000 recognizance bond and a $50,000 cash bond, Montoya Gonzalez was apparently walking free by Tuesday, when county jail records show he was arrested again on felony breaking and entering and theft charges.
The details of that incident were not immediately clear.
