Columbus, OH – In Ohio courtrooms, dismay and shock erupted after a father who sought to take revenge on a man who raped his 11-year-old daughter faced tougher bail conditions than the man who allegedly raped his daughter.
An Ohio father has been charged after authorities say he used his 11-year-old daughter’s TikTok account to lure a 20-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting the child before shooting him at his home.
According to prosecutors, Malik Chandler, 31, allegedly discovered videos on the suspect’s cellphone that included footage of his 11-year-old daughter being raped, along with additional child sexual abuse material involving other victims.
Investigators allege Chandler then posed as his daughter on TikTok and arranged for Diego Montoya Gonzalez, 20, to come to his residence.
Prosecutors say suspect was shot after arriving at home
Authorities allege Montoya Gonzalez arrived at Chandler’s home believing he was meeting the child.
Instead, prosecutors say Chandler confronted him and shot him twice.
Montoya Gonzalez survived the shooting and was later taken into custody.
Chandler has since been charged with felony assault. Court records show his bond was set at $100,000.
Child sexual abuse charges filed
Separate from the shooting investigation, Montoya Gonzalez has been indicted on multiple felony sex offense charges.
According to prosecutors, he faces two counts of rape and five counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.
Investigators also allege they discovered child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, including a video involving an infant.
Court records indicate Montoya Gonzalez was granted a $20,000 recognizance bond along with a $50,000 cash or surety bond, according to WBNS 10TV.
Case highlights legal risks of vigilante justice
Although prosecutors have charged both men, the cases involve separate alleged crimes that will proceed independently through the courts.
Legal experts have long cautioned that individuals who take justice into their own hands—even when confronting someone accused of serious crimes—may still face criminal prosecution if they commit violent offenses outside the protections of self-defense laws.
Meanwhile, the charges against Montoya Gonzalez remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Why was the father charged?
Prosecutors allege Malik Chandler intentionally lured Montoya Gonzalez to his home and shot him. Authorities charged him with felony assault based on those allegations.
What charges does the alleged sexual assault suspect face?
Diego Montoya Gonzalez has been indicted on two counts of rape and five counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.
Did the shooting victim survive?
Yes. According to prosecutors, Montoya Gonzalez survived after being shot twice.
Are both cases still pending?
Yes. Both Chandler’s assault case and Montoya Gonzalez’s criminal case are ongoing.
Why it matters
The case has drawn national attention because it combines allegations of child sexual abuse with allegations of vigilante violence. While many states recognize a parent’s instinct to protect a child, criminal investigations generally treat retaliatory acts as separate offenses, leaving courts to determine criminal responsibility in each case.
Sources
- WBNS 10TV
- Court records
- Prosecutors’ statements
