by Logan Andrew | FreeWire — Your News, Your Voice
UPDATE: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 – 2:45 PM
Prosecutor Issues Statement; Potential 10-Year Sentence for Cole
Following the guilty verdict delivered Thursday, Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Crall released a statement detailing the complexities of the three-day trial.
According to Crall, the prosecution—led by Assistant Prosecutors Ryan Hoovler and Dan Stanley—successfully navigated a “difficult factual situation” involving the Outlaw Biker clubhouse shooting. The state’s evidence focused on Cole’s reckless handling of a firearm while intoxicating beverages were being consumed at the South Highland Avenue location.
“If there is a lesson to be learned, it is that firearms can be dangerous and must be respected… mixing them with alcohol is never a good idea,” Crall stated.
Sentencing and Final Penalties While initial reports estimated the maximum sentence based on standard third-degree felony guidelines, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Friday that the inclusion of gun specifications significantly increases the stakes. Zachary Cole now faces a total of up to 10 years in prison.
Judge Sean Leuthold has officially scheduled the sentencing hearing for Wednesday, February 4.
Crall credited the successful prosecution to a collaborative effort involving:
- The Bucyrus Police Department
- The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
- The Ohio Attorney General’s Office
- The Lucas and Crawford County Coroners
- The Richland County Prosecutor’s Office
Prosecutor Crall expressed hope that the conclusion of this case brings closure to the family of Guilianno Yamani, who resided in Bucyrus at the time of his death.
“A Crawford County Jury returned a verdict of guilty to all counts after a three-day trial which commenced January 27 in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Cole faced a two-count indictment for Reckless Homicide in the death of Gillianno Jamil Yamani, age 28 and Tampering with Evidence. Cole also faced gun specifications on each charge. Yamani resided in Bucyrus at the time of his death.
At trial, Assistant Prosecutors Ryan Hoovler and Dan Stanley led the jury of twelve through the facts of what occurred on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 817 South Highland Avenue. That location was found to be a local clubhouse of the “Outlaw Biker” gang. According to County Prosecutor Matthew Crall, “Ryan Hoovler did a fantastic job working with Detective Jamie Carver of the Bucyrus Police Department in explaining a difficult factual situation where Cole acted recklessly with a firearm while intoxicating beverages were being consumed. Assistant Prosecutor Stanley worked with the Coroner’s Office and Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to aide in proving this difficult case.”
“We hope that the successful conclusion of this case, will help allow the family of Mr. Yamani some closure. This has been very difficult for them. If there is a lesson to be learned, it is that firearms can be dangerous and must be respected… mixing them with alcohol is never a good idea,” said Prosecutor Crall.
The Bucyrus Police Department, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, the Lucas and Crawford County Coroners, Crawford County Prosecutor Investigator Jamey Gregory, and the staff of County Prosecutor’s Office and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, all assisted the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Cole will be sentenced on February 4 by Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold. Cole could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.”
BUCYRUS – After nearly two years of legal proceedings, a Crawford County jury has delivered a verdict in the case that shook South Highland Avenue. Zachary Cole, 29, was found guilty Thursday afternoon of Reckless Homicide and Tampering with Evidence in the 2024 death of fellow Outlaw Motorcycle Club member, Guilianno Yamani.
Immediately following the verdict, Judge Sean Leuthold revoked Cole’s $150,000 bond, ordering him into the custody of the Crawford County Jail to await sentencing.
The Fatal Night
The case dates back to March 15, 2024. At approximately 10:49 PM, Bucyrus Police responded to a “shots fired” call at the Outlaw Biker clubhouse located at 817 South Highland Ave. Inside, they found 28-year-old Guilianno Yamani dead from a single gunshot wound.
While Cole was arrested shortly after the incident on tampering charges, the investigation into the shooting itself continued for months.
The Paper Trail: A Timeline of Justice
- March 15, 2024: Fatal shooting occurs at the South Highland clubhouse.
- March 26, 2024: Zachary Cole is officially indicted and arrested.
- April 1, 2024: Cole is arraigned in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
- July 2024: A Grand Jury adds the Reckless Homicide charge after further evidence review.
- January 29, 2026: A jury convicts Cole on all counts, including gun specifications.
“Perverse Disregard”
The jury’s decision to convict on Reckless Homicide (a third-degree felony) rather than a more severe murder charge indicates they found Cole didn’t necessarily set out to kill Yamani, but acted with a “perverse disregard” for the life-threatening risk his actions created.
The additional conviction for Tampering with Evidence suggests the scene was altered before police arrived, a common complication in cases involving closed-door organizations like the Outlaws.
What’s Next?
Cole faces a maximum of 36 months for each of the two third-degree felonies. However, the gun specification adds mandatory prison time that must be served consecutively.
For a community that has watched this clubhouse with a wary eye, this verdict closes a violent chapter that lingered for nearly two years. Judge Leuthold has not yet set a final sentencing date, but Cole will remain behind bars until that day arrives.
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