Meridian man pleads guilty in connection to shooting of his ex-girlfriend
A 32-year-old Meridian man admitted to three felonies related to the shooting of his ex-girlfriend last year. He is expected to be sentenced next month.
Daniel Bondar pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, and destruction or concealment of evidence as part of a plea deal with the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.
In March 2021, Bondar shot his ex-girlfriend, dropped her off at a local hospital and fled, police alleged. The incident occurred near North Maple Grove and West Ustick roads in Boise.
While Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Tessie Buttram acknowledged during a September hearing that Bondar’s ex-girlfriend was shot, as a part of the plea agreement, Bondar’s convictions reflect only that he pointed a gun at her.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault instead of aggravated battery, which, according to a September criminal complaint, states that Bondar threatened to shoot her with a handgun. The initial charging document — which entailed aggravated battery — alleged that Bondar shot her.
Bondar pleaded guilty during the September hearing to aggravated assault through an Alford plea. An Alford plea carries the weight of a guilty plea but means Bonder isn’t admitting to the crime. He also pleaded guilty to the two additional felonies.
He was arrested without incident almost a week after the shooting in Nampa by members of a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Boise Police Department previously said in a news release. The task force included officers from the Boise, Garden City, Nampa police departments and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Bondar has been in custody at the Ada County Jail since he was arrested in March 2021 on a $1 million bond, online jail records showed.
He was initially charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, two counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and a persistent violator enhancement, online court records showed. If Bondar was convicted of the most severe felony — the persistent violator enhancement — he could have faced up to life in prison, according to Idaho law.
But as part of the plea agreement, Bondar could face up to 15 years in prison, according to court documents reviewed by the Idaho Statesman.
He is expected to be sentenced at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the Ada County Courthouse, according to online court records.
