Delaware News


Attempted Murder Conviction In Kent County Brings Life Sentence

Consumer Protection | Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, August 26, 2016



Other defendants face prison time for gun offenses, endangering a child, and burglaries.
Also: Fraudulent firefighter charity investigated by Delaware to be shut down in Michigan.

A 37-year-old Camden man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced for Attempted Murder and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. During an argument in September 2015, Daniel Eyster hit his girlfriend in the head with a hammer causing a serious head injury and leading to several surgeries. After being convicted by a Superior Court jury in June, Eyster faced a minimum mandatory sentence of 17 years in prison, but Judge Jeffrey Clark imposed a life sentence. Deputy Attorney General Zach George prosecuted the case.

Deputy Attorneys General Michael DegliObizzi and Erika Flaschner secured a guilty verdict against Coty Edgar, 32, of Wilmington for Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited. In August 2015, police stopped a car driven by Edgar in the 1400 Block of West 4th Street in Wilmington because of a partially obstructed license plate. A search of the car turned up a semi-automatic 9mm hand gun with three magazines containing 31 live rounds of ammunition. Edgar, prohibited from having a firearm or ammunition due to two previous violent felony convictions, faces a minimum of 10 years in prison when sentenced by the court.

Deputy Attorney General Karin Volker secured a prison sentence for Isaiah Volkens, 25, of Newark, on the charge of Felony Endangering the Welfare of a Child. In April 2015, while caring for his infant daughter, Volkens handled the child in a manner that caused severe injuries including a fractured skull. Volkens was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended after one year for one year at Level IV, suspended after six months for Level III probation. Volkens was ordered to complete parenting classes and domestic violence classes, undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any treatment recommendations.

Deputy Attorneys General Christina Kontis and Chris Marques resolved several cases with guilty pleas from Brandon Wolski, 30, of Bear. Wolski pled to Attempted Burglary Third Degree, two counts of Burglary Third Degree and Receiving Stolen Property. All of the charges stem from a crime spree that went from late December 2015 through January 2016. Wolski broke into a car outside of a business at the New Castle County Airport, the Graylyn Crest Animal Hospital on Marsh Road, and the Starquest Shooters & Survival Supply Store, also on Marsh Road in North Wilmington. Judge John Parkins sentenced Wolski to back time, with credit for 4 months previously served, followed by 9 months of Level IV home confinement and 18 months at Level III probation. Wolski was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3281.00

On July 22, the Delaware Attorney General announced an agreement with Michigan-based Firefighter Support Services to cease making solicitation phone calls into Delaware that were supposedly on behalf of firefighters, and to forfeit almost $6000 in contributions made from Delawareans since 2011 (https://news.delaware.gov/2016/07/22/fraudulent-firefighter-charity-calls-stopped-and-misleading-donations-given-to-delaware-firefighters-after-ag-office-investigation/).The case was handled by DOJ Consumer Protection Unit Deputy Attorney General Gillian Andrews and Investigator Alan Rachko, and the restitution funds were turned over to the non-profit Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association. This week, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which Delaware consulted in its investigation, said it had determined that less than 10 percent of money raised by FSS went to charitable purposes, and that an emergency blanket donation program run by the group actually utilized blankets purchased for the homeless with federal funds, listing an overinflated value for the blankets on their financial statements. The Michigan AG’s Office announced that FSS, which it said had raised more than $4.2 million across the country, will cease operations within 60 days and that its three directors have agreed to make restitution and never serve as directors or officers of another charity. Michigan’s announcement can be found here.

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Attempted Murder Conviction In Kent County Brings Life Sentence

Consumer Protection | Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, August 26, 2016



Other defendants face prison time for gun offenses, endangering a child, and burglaries.
Also: Fraudulent firefighter charity investigated by Delaware to be shut down in Michigan.

A 37-year-old Camden man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced for Attempted Murder and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. During an argument in September 2015, Daniel Eyster hit his girlfriend in the head with a hammer causing a serious head injury and leading to several surgeries. After being convicted by a Superior Court jury in June, Eyster faced a minimum mandatory sentence of 17 years in prison, but Judge Jeffrey Clark imposed a life sentence. Deputy Attorney General Zach George prosecuted the case.

Deputy Attorneys General Michael DegliObizzi and Erika Flaschner secured a guilty verdict against Coty Edgar, 32, of Wilmington for Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited. In August 2015, police stopped a car driven by Edgar in the 1400 Block of West 4th Street in Wilmington because of a partially obstructed license plate. A search of the car turned up a semi-automatic 9mm hand gun with three magazines containing 31 live rounds of ammunition. Edgar, prohibited from having a firearm or ammunition due to two previous violent felony convictions, faces a minimum of 10 years in prison when sentenced by the court.

Deputy Attorney General Karin Volker secured a prison sentence for Isaiah Volkens, 25, of Newark, on the charge of Felony Endangering the Welfare of a Child. In April 2015, while caring for his infant daughter, Volkens handled the child in a manner that caused severe injuries including a fractured skull. Volkens was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended after one year for one year at Level IV, suspended after six months for Level III probation. Volkens was ordered to complete parenting classes and domestic violence classes, undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any treatment recommendations.

Deputy Attorneys General Christina Kontis and Chris Marques resolved several cases with guilty pleas from Brandon Wolski, 30, of Bear. Wolski pled to Attempted Burglary Third Degree, two counts of Burglary Third Degree and Receiving Stolen Property. All of the charges stem from a crime spree that went from late December 2015 through January 2016. Wolski broke into a car outside of a business at the New Castle County Airport, the Graylyn Crest Animal Hospital on Marsh Road, and the Starquest Shooters & Survival Supply Store, also on Marsh Road in North Wilmington. Judge John Parkins sentenced Wolski to back time, with credit for 4 months previously served, followed by 9 months of Level IV home confinement and 18 months at Level III probation. Wolski was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3281.00

On July 22, the Delaware Attorney General announced an agreement with Michigan-based Firefighter Support Services to cease making solicitation phone calls into Delaware that were supposedly on behalf of firefighters, and to forfeit almost $6000 in contributions made from Delawareans since 2011 (https://news.delaware.gov/2016/07/22/fraudulent-firefighter-charity-calls-stopped-and-misleading-donations-given-to-delaware-firefighters-after-ag-office-investigation/).The case was handled by DOJ Consumer Protection Unit Deputy Attorney General Gillian Andrews and Investigator Alan Rachko, and the restitution funds were turned over to the non-profit Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association. This week, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which Delaware consulted in its investigation, said it had determined that less than 10 percent of money raised by FSS went to charitable purposes, and that an emergency blanket donation program run by the group actually utilized blankets purchased for the homeless with federal funds, listing an overinflated value for the blankets on their financial statements. The Michigan AG’s Office announced that FSS, which it said had raised more than $4.2 million across the country, will cease operations within 60 days and that its three directors have agreed to make restitution and never serve as directors or officers of another charity. Michigan’s announcement can be found here.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.