The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria man gets eight years for fatal 2016 crash
An Elyria man did not look at the widow of the man he killed with his car in 2016 as she openly wept while talking about the pain he caused.
Andre L. Sanford, 26, was sentenced to eight years in prison April 9 for two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of Jeffrey A. Johnson, 47, and two counts of OVI in Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark A. Betleski’s courtroom.
Sanford pleaded no contest to the charges.
As part of the sentence, Sanford is not eligible for judicial release and has a lifetime driving suspension.
According to the Elyria Police Department, Sanford and his brother, 22-year-old Allen Sanford, struck Johnson while he was riding a motorcycle at 4:52 a.m. Oct. 6, 2016, near the area of Route 57 and Schaden Road.
Before the sentence was handed down, members of Johnson’s family addressed the court.
Devin Isom, Johnson’s oldest son, began his remarks by saying he was speaking on his father’s behalf.
“No one deserves to have their life taken away,” Isom said. “He left a big void that will never be filled. There’s a lot of family members and friends that he left behind.
“Me and the accused aren’t too far difference in age, and I just want him to have in mind how it would feel if it was the other way
around. Karma is real.”
Tracey Payton-Johnson, Johnson’s widow, broke down in tears before she could begin speaking, but fought through it saying, “God help me.”
“Your honor, my life has been turned upside down,” Payton-Johnson told Betleski. “He didn’t deserve what happened to him. I don’t know what to do without him. I feel like I’m missing this piece.
“He was everything to everybody. He was a hard worker. My heart is hurting so bad and I don’t know what to do to stop the pain. I’ve gone through therapy and it’s not working. It hurts so bad, your honor.”
Sanford’s attorney, Anthony Manning, argued his client should only receive three years for the crimes.
“He’s been a great, great client to deal with,” Manning said. “He’s extremely
remorseful. As you recall, I think the officer said when he came to the police station, he was sobbing because of what happened.”
Sanford, who did not leave his seat throughout the proceeding, said he was sorry to the Johnson family.
“My intention was not to hurt Mr. Johnson, or myself,” he said. “I wish I could go back to that regretful moment and change it, but I can’t.”
Before announcing the sentence, Betleski said cases like these are why he intends to retire at the end of his term.
Nadja Payton, Johnson’s daughter, said after the hearing, that the family wasn’t completely happy with the sentence.
“For me, personally, it’s more than I expected, honestly,” Payton said. “It’s not going to change anything; it’s not going to bring him back.”