West Salem Man Pleads to Three Counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide

Jason R. Casey, 26, of Greeley Street in West Salem, Ohio, was in front of Judge James Kimbler on three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide. Two of the charges were second degree felonies and one charge was a third degree felony. Although three charges were filed, all three of them relate to the death of the same individual. Mr. Casey entered pleas of no contest to all three charges.

Mr. Casey can be charged with three separate offenses and can be convicted of all three offenses, but can only be sentenced on one of the charges. When Mr. Casey is sentenced, the State will have to select one of the three charges. Judge Kimbler will then sentence him on the charge selected by the State.

The charges arose out of a traffic accident on June 16, 2010. The State alleged in the first count of the indictment that Mr. Casey was driving while under the influence of alcohol. In the second count the State alleged that he was driving with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in his breath. In the third count the State alleged that he operated his truck recklessly.

The first two charges carry a mandatory prison sentence of between 2 and 8 years, and a mandatory lifetime revocation of his license to operate a motor vehicle. While a prison sentence is mandatory, the length of the sentence will be determined by Judge Kimbler.

Judge Kimbler accepted the three no contest pleas, found him guilty of all three charges and ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Judge Kimbler will sentence Mr. Casey in about five weeks.