Olivia Clendenin, an Ohio woman upset by her estranged husband and new boyfriend hanging out at a New Year’s Eve party, was sentenced last week to 16 to 20 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder and other charges in connection with a gun attack that left an innocent person injured.
The Incident
The incident occurred in January 2024 when Clendenin, after seeing her estranged husband and boyfriend at the party, left the house angrily. She returned around 5 a.m. in a fit of rage, driving her mother’s 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. She fired shots at the house, striking a 29-year-old man named Daniel Johnson, who was standing on the porch.
Johnson, who was minding his own business when the attack happened, was hit in the abdomen by a bullet intended for someone else. “The defendant was attempting to shoot at someone else, and I was the one who ended up being shot,” Johnson said during his statement at Clendenin’s sentencing. “In that moment, my life changed for reasons that have nothing to do with me.”
The Charges and Conviction
Clendenin was found guilty by a Warren County jury on multiple charges, including two counts of felonious assault, discharging a firearm into a home, and attempted murder. Prosecutors stated that Clendenin’s reckless actions and disregard for the safety of others had life-altering consequences.
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell commented, “Clendenin may have started 2025 as a free person, but she will spend the rest of 2026 and at least the decade thereafter incarcerated for attempted murder, striking and almost killing an innocent victim.”
Clendenin’s Fleeing and Arrest
After the shooting, Clendenin fled the scene, but not before crashing her mother’s Jeep into a guardrail and utility pole. Clearcreek police found her at the crash scene, where she was arrested. Despite pleading not guilty, she was later released after posting bail, subject to electronic home detention with a no-contact order for witnesses involved in the case.
Sentencing and Clendenin’s Statement
At her sentencing, Clendenin expressed regret for the pain caused by her actions, stating, “I care deeply about my family, my friends, my business, and those who rely on me in this world. To Daniel, I am very, very glad that he is well after a difficult time he has been through, and I truly hope that he has a great future and I wish him nothing but the best in his future.”
Despite her statement of remorse, the gravity of her actions led to a lengthy sentence for her reckless behavior.
The Impact on the Victim
Daniel Johnson, who was shot but survived the attack, spoke of the life-altering consequences of the incident. His experience serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by impulsive and reckless acts of violence, and the trauma they inflict on innocent individuals.
