By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-06 20:21:07 | Updated at 2026-08-06 21:07:14
46 minutes ago
The Ohio dad who used TikTok to lure his 11-year-old daughter’s alleged rapist to his house, then shot him twice, could face up to 18 years behind bars — because he’s a felon who isn’t allowed to possess a gun, The Post has learned.
Malik Chandler, 31, was charged with felony assault and using a weapon “under disability” after allegedly shooting 20-year-old Diego Montoya Gonzalez during a bloody confrontation at his Grove City home last month, court records show.
The “under disability” specification — which carries extra prison time — was tacked onto the charges because Chandler was banned from ever carrying a firearm in Ohio following a conviction for felony burglary while he was a minor in 2010, according to Nya Hairston, the communications director at the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
If the weapons charge wasn’t added, the dad could have faced up to 12 years behind bars if convicted, plus a fine of up to $15,000, according to Ohio sentencing guidelines.
Chandler pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday and his family dished out $10,000 to make his bond, his mom told The Post.
As part of his bond conditions, the felon was placed on electronic monitoring and warned to stay away from Montoya Gonzalez and his family — after he allegedly threatened one of the accused pervert’s relatives outside of the courthouse one day this week.
“There was an incident that occurred Monday where the defendant followed the victim’s family during custody arraignments…and threatened to shoot the victim’s brother, like he shot the victim,” prosecutor Megan Farley said inside the courtroom, ABC 6 reported.
Chandler denied that claim during the hearing, according to the outlet.
Chandler allegedly shot Montoya Gonzalez after the 11-year-old’s mother discovered a video on their daughter’s phone that showed him sexually assaulting the girl at their family home, according to prosecutors.
The next day, Chandler pretended to be his daughter on TikTok to get Montoya Gonzalez back to their home, where the dad only intended to beat him up, hold him and call police, WNBS reported.
His plan went kaput after Chandler thought he saw the alleged sicko reach for a gun in his pocket, picked up his gun off the counter and opened fire.
When police arrived on the scene, they found Montoya Gonzalez sitting in a chair with two gunshot wounds. He was transported to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, according to WHIO.
Reached by The Post on Wednesday, Chandler’s mother defended her youngest son’s response to the situation.
“I mean, I know why he did it, because that guy sexually assaulted my granddaughter – he raped my granddaughter,” she claimed. “He’s 20 years old – she’s 11. She’s not a legal age for consent, in no way shape, form or fashion.”
When asked if she thinks Chandler would do the same thing again, the mom replied, “I would hope so.”
“Some people say that they don’t play about their kids, they’ll do anything to protect their kids and blah blah blah and they don’t really mean that, but if my kids say it, you can damn well believe they mean it,” she continued. “And that’s good. Your kids are a part of you.”
Montoya Gonzalez was indicted by a grand jury last week on five counts of pandering sexually oriented material, two counts of rape and one count of obstruction of official business.
Prosecutors allege they found several videos on his phone showing the sexual abuse of children — including one clip of an infant or toddler.
Chandler and the girl’s mom were present in the Franklin County Common Pleas Courtroom as Montoya Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday.
Though the judge slapped him with a $20,000 recognizance bond and a $50,000 cash bond, Montoya Gonzalez was apparently walking free by Tuesday, when county jail records show he was arrested again on felony breaking and entering and theft charges.
The details of that incident were not immediately clear.
