WARREN — A man who pleaded guilty last month to multiple felonies, including attempted murder, was sentenced to a minimum of 65 years in prison by Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice on Wednesday afternoon.

Rice called Shawn Riley a “criminal sociopath” who continually assaulted the mother of his children in a manner that is beyond any type of explanation other than he is a monster.

“I have been a judge for 29 years and have had the displeasure of seeing heaps of vile criminals,” Rice said. “You, Shawn Riley, are right up there with the worst of the worst. Mr. Riley, when you care for someone, you don’t physically assault her in front of your children.

“You don’t physically assault and choke her until she loses consciousness, cut her with a knife and you don’t urinate on a defenseless, beaten, slashed woman,” Rice continued.

The judge stated Danielle J. Jacobs, 25, suffered serious physical harm and severe disfiguring. In addition, their two small children suffered psychological harm because of his conduct that will be exacerbated because of their ages.

Rice sentenced Riley to consecutive felony sentences to ensure he will spend at least 65 years in prison and could serve as many as 97 1/2 years in prison.

Riley, 26, 548 Brunstetter Road, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder, two counts of aggravated burglary and five counts of kidnapping. He also pleaded guilty to second-degree felonies of felonious assault (three counts) and first-degree misdemenaors of domestic violence (two counts) and endangering children (three counts).

Police reports show Riley held Jacobs and their three children against their will in the 423 Martin St. SW home during the afternoon of Aug. 27, 2019. He hid while waiting to ambush the victims, forced them into their home at knifepoint and terrorized them for more than three hours.

Assistant County Prosecutor Gabe Wildman said Riley slashed Jacobs across the face with the knife, causing great blood loss, almost killing her.

Warren police were called to the southwest Warren apartment about 4:30 p.m. and heard a female screaming inside and found the apartment door barricaded. When police entered the home, they saw the man walking the woman down the steps holding her by her hair with a knife against her throat. According to a police report, Riley told officers to give him space or he “would take matters into his own hands.”

Riley dragged Jacobs up the stairs and demanded to speak to someone because he was holding hostages.

The Mahoning Valley Crisis Response team was called. After several hours, team members persuaded the man to release the three children. A short time later, he released the woman and was taken into custody.

Police reports show Riley tried to escape as he was being handed over to Warren police and again as he was being booked into jail by deputies.

Although Riley expressed remorse, Rice noted he is completely void of any emphathy and lacks a true understanding of the serious harm, pain and embarrassment he has caused his family.

“The consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public,” Rice said. “The harm caused by the multiple offenses was so unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed adequately reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s criminal conduct.”

“You may be questioning why this court gave you a sentence where you must serve a minimum prison term of 65 years,” Rice said. “The answer is you are a true criminal sociopath; you are a threat to our society and are incapable of being rehabilitated. More importantly, this court could give you 66 minimum years or more.”