A 63-year-old Norton man didn’t make it completely out of his car as another man repeatedly struck him in the head and face.
Daniel Carraway’s arm was still stuck in the seat belt when police found him unconscious in the parking lot of a Norton nightclub last November. Carraway never regained consciousness and died of his injuries.
These were among the details of Carraway’s death shared by Summit County prosecutors Tuesday during the sentencing for Robert P. Lantz Jr., who previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Carraway.
Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Jon Baumoel called Carraway’s beating death “horrific, senseless and brutal.”
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Scot Stevenson sentenced Lantz, 37, of Brunswick, to eight years in prison. He faced up to 11 years.
Lantz, who lived in New Franklin when the beating death occurred, pleaded guilty Aug. 26 to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter under an agreement with prosecutors. He was originally charged with murder.
Police said Lantz and Carraway, 63, had an argument on the evening of Nov. 19 at Desiree’s, 4951 Wooster Road W. Lantz was asked to leave but later returned and spoke with Carraway.
Carraway was assaulted after the two exited the back of the bar. Police found Carraway unresponsive on the ground next to his vehicle about 10:15 p.m. He was taken to Akron City Hospital where he later died.
Supporters of Lantz and Carraway said during the sentencing that such a fight was out of character for both men.
Debra Klein, Carraway’s fiancee who lived with him for 18 years, said Carraway was an ex-Marine who had been retired for a year from being a barber. She called him a caring person who would “go out of his way to avoid a fight.”
“He was attacked by a 36-year-old who had no regard for his life,” Klein said. “He was asked to leave the bar. He left, came back and bludgeoned Danny to death and ran away.”
Klein urged Stevenson to impose the maximum sentence.
“Danny’s life mattered,” she said, fighting tears.
Baumoel echoed Klein’s suggested sentence, saying Lantz only stopped beating Carraway when a nightclub employee shouted, “Stop! He’s unconscious!” He said Carraway suffered seven blows to the head.
Stuart Lippe, Lantz’s Cleveland attorney, said Lantz and Carraway were highly intoxicated. He said Lantz’s thoughts were distorted, and he lacked common sense.
“He understands his stupidity,” Lippe said. “It should never have happened.”
Lippe said his client is accepting responsibility for his actions and is remorseful. He urged Stevenson to consider a lesser sentence.
Christine Lantz, Lantz’s sister, also pleaded for leniency. She said her brother is a hard worker and a good father to his son.
“When you hear that your life can change in the blink of an eye, this incident is proof,” she said.
Lantz, who says he has since stopped drinking, said the incident was fueled by too much alcohol that caused an argument with a man he considered a friend to escalate. He apologized to the community, Carraway’s family and to Carraway.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and accept the consequences,” he said. “I never intended for this to happen in any shape or form.”
Stevenson sentenced Lantz to eight years, noting Lantz’s lack of a serious criminal record and remorsefulness. He encouraged Lantz to work on improving himself while in prison, so he will be ready to be a productive citizen when he is released.
“Maybe, in some way, you can make up for this tragedy,” Stevenson said.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.