ASHLAND — The Ashland man found guilty last month of aggravated vehicular homicide was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison.
In addition to the prison time, Ashland County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Forsthoefel ordered that Raymond L. Stafford pay $13,300.25 in restitution to the victim’s family.
Stafford will also have his driver’s license suspended five years, through Oct. 28, 2023.
In September, a jury found that Stafford’s reckless driving caused the death of a 37-year-old Sullivan man, Ernest L. Whitesel. The guilty verdict on the third degree felony charge came after a three-day trial and less than two hours of jury deliberation.
Whitesel and Stafford both were driving north on Ohio 58 just south of Township Road 350 in the early morning hours of Nov. 28, 2016 when Stafford attempted to pass Whitesel’s vehicle and the two vehicles collided.
Evidence presented at trial indicated both drivers likely were driving well above the posted speed limit, but assistant prosecutor Victor Perez argued the existence of any other potential causes were not an adequate defense and did not negate Stafford’s crime.
Perez said that the crash occurred on a rural, two-lane road well before sunrise and that Stafford chose to pass Whitesel at a high rate of speed. Stafford knew the route well, Perez said, and would have known an intersection was just ahead.
“Mr. Stafford chose to act recklessly, and that’s what this case is about,” Perez said at trial.
Through his attorney, Terry Hitchman, Stafford requested that the court appoint appellate counsel for him. Forsthoefel appointed attorney Matthew Malone to represent Stafford on appeal.
The court denied a motion from the defense to stay execution of the sentence pending the results of the appeal.
