MOUNT VERNON – Judge John Thatcher found five individuals guilty after court trials and hearings held in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court on January 4, 2017.
Donald Speicher, II, 36 of Greensprings, changed his plea to guilty and was found guilty of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or a drug of abuse and refusing the requested chemical test of his blood, breath or urine out of an incident that occurred on October 21, 2016. This was Mr. Speicher’s second OVI conviction within the past 6 years. The Court sentenced Mr. Speicher to the following: pay a fine of $700 plus court costs, serve 180 days in jail, with 160 days suspended, be placed on two years of community control supervision, required to complete a drug and alcohol assessment with 60 days and comply with all recommendations, attend two AA meetings per week until the assessment is completed, continue to wear continuous alcohol monitoring device (SCRAM), and pay $100/month on his fines and costs. Tpr. Steven Hill of the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant Director of Law Brittany Whitney represented the State of Ohio.
Morgan Giles of the Giles Law Group represented Mr. Speicher.
Clay Gallagher, 43 of Mount Vernon, was found guilty after a trial to the court of failing to maintain an assured clear distance ahead. The charge arose out of single car accident that occurred on December 13, 2016 in Liberty Township. Tpr. Jeremy Ranalli of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Mount Gilead Post investigated the incident and testified for the prosecution. Due to the weather conditions on the day of the crash, the Court sentenced Mr. Gallagher to pay no fine, court costs only.
Mark Hatch, 52 of Brinkhaven, was found guilty of failure to use reasonable control. The charge arose out of a single-car accident that occurred on December 13, 2016 in Butler Township. Tpr. Ranalli investigated the incident and testified for the prosecution. Due to the weather conditions on the day of the crash, the Court sentenced Mr. Hatch to pay no fine, court costs only.
Luke Abrams, 35 of Fredericktown, was found guilty of failure to use reasonable control. The charge arose of out a tw0-vehcile accident that occurred on December 17, 2016 in Berlin Township. Dep. Ryan Burgess of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident and he, along with the driver of the second vehicle, Eric Harris, testified for the prosecution. Due to the weather conditions on the day of the crash, the Court sentenced Mr. Abrams to pay no fine, court costs only.
Zaine Barnett, 45 of Mount Vernon, changed his plea to no contest and was found guilty of speeding, 41 mph in a 25 mph zone, on October 15, 2016 in the City of Mount Vernon. Mr. Barnett was cited by Tpr. Paul Swan of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The Court sentenced Mr. Barnett to pay a fine of $40 plus court costs.
Director of Law P. Robert Broeren, Jr. represented the State of Ohio in each of these cases.