MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – William Craig Hollars, 44, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, will face federal sentencing after pleading guilty to a shocking string of charges stemming from a September 2022 attack that culminated at the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building. Hollars admitted to a prolonged and violent assault, escalating from strangulation to a desperate attempt to injure his victim and damage federal property with an improvised explosive device.
The indictment, filed June 14, 2023, detailed a horrific scene. Hollars pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, one count of Assault of a Dating Partner in Indian Country, one count of Attempt to Damage and Destroy by Explosive, one count of Making of a Firearm in Violation of the National Firearms Act, and one count of Carry Explosive During the Commission of a Felony. The charges paint a picture of calculated brutality.
According to court records, the ordeal began on September 6, 2022. Hollars strangled the victim before threatening her with a homemade bomb. As she attempted to escape and seek refuge at the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building, Hollars pursued her, striking her in the back of the head and forcibly dragging her from the building. He then allegedly attempted to detonate the device, intending to both injure the victim and inflict damage on the Treasury Building itself.
The incident unfolded within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation in Pontotoc County, falling under the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The investigation was a coordinated effort between the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The quick response and collaborative investigation were critical in bringing Hollars to justice.
U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Edward Snow accepted Hollars’ guilty plea and ordered a presentence investigation report to be completed. Hollars remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, awaiting sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case highlights the dangers of domestic violence and the devastating consequences of escalating violence, particularly when coupled with the creation and use of dangerous explosives. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing when it is announced. The Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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- Kelly Don Girty Jr, Illegal Firearm, Oklahoma 2024 · Alabama
- Nathan Quinn Harrington, Felon with Firearm, Oklahoma 2024 · Oklahoma
- Angel Luis Garcia-Navedo, Rifle Deception, Oklahoma 2024 · Alabama
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