DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Othal Wallace, the Daytona Beach man convicted of manslaughter in the 2021 killing of a local police officer, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday. Wallace was initially charged with first degree murder, but was convicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The sentencing of Wallace to 30 years was the maximum possible penalty Judge Raul Zambrano could've handed down. Local law enforcement personnel largely applauded the decision, but many are still furious over the acquittal of Wallace on his initial first degree murder charge.
In June 2021, Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor approached Wallace as the latter was sitting in his vehicle outside a Daytona apartment complex. A scuffle ensued, and Wallace shot Raynor in the head. Raynor succumbed to his injuries months later. A manhunt for Wallace in the days following the shooting led to him being captured in Georgia, hours away from the apartment complex.
"We take solace in the knowledge that the perpetrator of this heinous crime has received the maximum sentence allowed by law following his manslaughter conviction," said Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, Raynor's former boss. "I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to State Attorney R. J. Larizza and his team of resolute prosecutors whose commitment to delivering justice in this case cannot be understated, and to our partners in the law enforcement community who assisted and stood with us during a very difficult time."
"Judge Zambrano's sentencing of Othal Wallace to the maximum penalty allowed by law provides some solace," added Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "I want to thank Judge Zambrano for reading letters from so many (including me) who were outraged by this cold-blooded murder of a police officer, regardless of what the jury wants to call it."
