Ohio man convicted of holding wife at gunpoint in retirement home gets 44 years in prison

Ohioan gets 44 years for retirement home standoff

TOLEDO, Ohio — An Ohio man has been sentenced to 44 years in prison on charges that he held his estranged wife at gunpoint at a retirement home where she worked.

Police said Michael Swiergosz (SWEER’-gohz) was distraught over his pending divorce when he went to the assisted-living center, pointed a gun at an employee and told her to call his wife. The April 28 standoff at the Sunset House in Toledo went on for five hours.

Swiergosz testified in court last month that he only brought the gun to get his wife’s attention.

At his sentencing hearing Monday he apologized and said he wants an opportunity to be a father again. His attorney says he’ll appeal the sentence.

A jury convicted Swiergosz Jan. 28 of charges including felonious assault, kidnapping and rape.