A Corry man will serve time in state prison following his conviction in a 2024 incident in which he struck and ran over another man with a vehicle.
William M. Pierce, 27, was sentenced May 4 in Erie County Court after pleading guilty earlier this year to felony aggravated assault and a summary count of reckless driving, according to a GoErie report. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors withdrew several additional charges, including other felony assault counts and a misdemeanor DUI charge.
Erie County President Judge John J. Mead imposed a standard-range sentence of 16 months to four years, describing the incident as violent and without justification.
The charges stem from an Aug. 31, 2024, altercation in the parking lot of Grover Cleveland Elementary School in Erie. According to police, Pierce struck David Schwab with his vehicle during a confrontation, sending him onto the hood. Investigators said Pierce then exited the vehicle, punched Schwab, returned to the driver’s seat and backed over him.
Authorities said the incident followed a dispute among a group that had been drinking earlier in the evening. Police reported the argument escalated after Pierce’s girlfriend was allegedly insulted.
During the sentencing hearing, Schwab addressed the court, detailing the lasting physical toll of the incident. Now 28, he said he continues to deal with daily pain and limited mobility, describing difficulty completing routine tasks and maintaining his daily life.
Schwab, who works as a state corrections officer, told the court he believes Pierce intended to kill him during the encounter.
Pierce also spoke at the hearing, expressing remorse for his actions. He told the court the incident was driven by anger and said he is working to improve himself. His defense attorney noted Pierce has no prior criminal record, is the father of two children, and has reportedly remained sober for about a year.
Judge Mead acknowledged those factors but emphasized they did not outweigh the severity of the offense and its impact on the victim.
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