A disgraced Ohio lawyer has been sentenced to over two decades in prison after pulling a loaded handgun on his ex-wife in a crowded restaurant before being tackled by a heroic waiter.
Matthew Exton, 43, was sentenced on Monday for attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault over the terrifying incident at a restaurant in downtown Toledo, WTOL 11 reported.
Exton, who was found guilty earlier this month, was caught on security video brandishing his weapon before waiter Tracy Cole Jr. tackled him to the ground as other patrons helped restrain him until police arrived, during wild scenes on April 11, 2025.
Prior to sentencing, he had tried to postpone the hearing by arguing he was firing his attorney and requesting a continuance to speak to a detective about an incident that took place after his arrest.
Exton also accused Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Cook of bias, wrongly describing him as “an unopposed Democrat … on the ballot again,” implying he was handing down a tougher sentence because “this is an election year.”
In fact, Judge Cook was reelected in November 2024 and is not up for election until 2030.
Exton also addressed the court for around 20 minutes, accepting responsibility for pointing a gun at his ex-wife and her family after spotting them in the restaurant.
He claimed he was depressed and suicidal after his divorce, but didn’t plan on firing the gun.
Exton admitted to approaching her table and spitting at her, before returning with a gun and pointing it at his former spouse before being tackled.
But prosecutors said Exton “nearly perpetrated a mass casualty event in the middle of a crowded restaurant if not for the gun safety being on and the intervention of the restaurant server who tackled him.”
Throughout, the disgraced attorney continued trying to interrupt the prosecution, repeating the word “liar” every few seconds.
Exton must serve a minimum of 20 years.
He has said he intends to appeal, arguing there were issues with the prosecution’s case.
