Man who headbutted priest, hit police officers with car sentenced in Cuyahoga County

CLEVELAND - The man who headbutted a priest and hit two undercover officers with his car in February has been sentenced.

William Horning, who pleaded guilty to felonious assault and theft in August, was sentenced by a judge in Cuyahoga County to spend the next two years and nine months behind bars.

Father Dean Dimon from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church said he and Father John, from Saint George Orthodox Church, both in Tremont, confronted Horning about work he was paid to do but never finished.

During the confrontation, Horning reportedly headbutted Father John and then found something and hit him in the back of the head. Horning then ran outside and got into his car.

Two undercover police officers were outside and showed their badges, ordering Horning to get out of the car. Police said he refused and hit both of them.

The priest did not need medical attention and the officers were treated and released from a local hospital.

Horning is also said to have bilked Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Fremont out of more than $96,000 for work that was never completed.

Annunciation lost $14,000 and Saint George Orthodox church is out $27,000. Horning was supposed to do restoration work on liturgical items at Annunciation and pew work at Saint Joseph.

Horning previously served time in prison for theft in connection with work never finished at Saint Joseph.

Horning could've been sentenced to 10 years in prison.