WILMINGTON — A Middletown man, found in Clinton County as an impaired operator of a parked vehicle, has been convicted and sentenced for what was his 10th lifetime OVI.
Roger Perry Hughes, 58, received a one-year prison term, had his operator license suspended for 10 years, and was fined $1,350.
At the time of his May 2, 2016 arrest for a felony OVI north of Wilmington, Hughes’ license already had been suspended for life in 2004 after a Butler County OVI conviction.
In the local case, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper saw a vehicle stopped on the right shoulder of U.S. 68, a little north of Wilmington. It was 9:03 p.m. and the vehicle’s lights were off, stated court papers.
Hughes told the trooper the vehicle malfunctioned while he was traveling to Hillsboro. His blood alcohol concentration (BAC) registered 0.135, reported the highway patrol.
Hughes previously served a prison term for OVI in the 2004 case. Other OVI convictions came in 1980, 1984, 1992, 1994, 2002 and 2003, court papers stated.
In this latest case, prosecution pledged in a plea agreement to stand silent and make no recommendation at the sentencing hearing, according to court papers.
While in prison, Hughes must attend and complete any available alcohol or drug abuse programs.
He does not own the Toyota Celica GT he was operating in Clinton County, and the vehicle will not be forfeited.
In an unrelated sentencing at Clinton County Common Pleas Court, Griffin P. Wise, 33, of Clinton County, must complete a residential treatment program after being convicted of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and endangering children in an April incident, and of vandalism to sheriff’s office property in a September incident.
A charge of felonious assault issued in the first incident was dropped by prosecutors.
A Wilmington police officer’s affidavit about the April incident stated the defendant, described as “a suicidal male,” showed up at a Silverado Drive residence in Wilmington and when the door was opened, Wise pointed a handgun at an occupant. Officers later took Wise into custody without incident and secured the pistol, according to the affidavit.
Police found a rifle and ammunition in the backseat of Wise’s vehicle, leading to the improper handling of a firearm charge. The charge of endangering children stemmed from the presence of a child at the residence.
Prior to the sentencing, the defendant tested positive for meth and admitting to using it. After being screened by STAR Community Justice Center treatment staff, Wise was accepted for admission into that Franklin Furnace, Ohio facility.
Court papers state that prosecutors agree STAR is “a viable alternative to prison” for Wise.
Placed under community controls for two years, Wise received a six-month suspended jail term (with time credit for 34 days already served). He must pay costs for his GPS house arrest device, and was ordered to pay $5,900 restitution to the county sheriff for the vandalism damage.
If he violates community controls, he could face a nine-month prison term.
Two other recent sentences include:
• Kristian R. Burch, 27, of New Vienna, was convicted of tampering with evidence. Burch was placed on community controls, and given a suspended six-month term of incarceration (credit for one day served). The defendant must reimburse a lab fee incurred by the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force, and contraband was forfeited.
• Randall W. Baker, 36, of Blanchester, was convicted of possessing heroin. He will attend the STAR Community Justice Center facility and was put on community controls for a two-year term. Baker received a suspended six-month jail term (with time credit for 28 days served).
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
