The Columbus Dispatch

Driver at fault in two deaths sentenced to 4 years probation

- Michaela Sumner

NEWARK – The driver convicted for a March 2019 crash along Ohio 79 that killed two people was sentenced to four years of probation on Monday.

Ryan M. Oppenheime­r, 39, of Gahanna, was found guilty of two counts of vehicular manslaught­er, both first-degree misdemeano­rs.

On March 6, 2019, the Ohio State Highway Patrol was called to a crash on Ohio 79 just south of Ridgely Tract Road around 8:30 p.m. Two individual­s, 59year-old Cindy L. Perry of Buckeye Lake, and her passenger, John Rodela Jr., 49, of Hebron, were pronounced dead on scene.

According to OSP, Oppenheime­r was driving a 2013 Ford Explorer northbound on Ohio 79, when the vehicle traveled left of center, striking the vehicle Perry was driving southbound.

During a sentencing hearing in Licking County Municipal Court, defense attorney J. Matthew Dawson described his client as extremely remorseful and regretful. Dawson said those feelings were not a result of feeling sorry for himself, but for the victims and their families.

Dawson explained Oppenheime­r never intended for the crash to happen, that he’d been working all day and night and was returning home from a job when the crash occurred. Since the crash, Dawson said his client has sought counseling through the VA hospital, which was finally working and he was beginning to get some of his life back together.

Dawson concluded by asking Judge David Stansbury to take those factors into considerat­ion during sentencing and not to impose jail time in the case.

Oppenheime­r’s voice was strained as he shakily stood to face the victims’ family members in court on Monday.

“It’s next to impossible to find the words to show how sorry I am,” he said. “It would be easier if I could blame it on acting stupid or drunk driving. I was trying to work. I overworked myself.”

The defendant said a day hasn’t passed that he hasn’t thought of the victims and that he’s stopped by the scene of the accident to apologize to them.

Oppenheime­r explained just prior to the crash, his father-in-law had died, his wife was no longer part of the picture, and Oppenheime­r took on a second job to take care of his family.

“I was trying to take care of my family and in doing so, you lost yours. I wish I could take it back,” he said. “I didn’t mean to cause this. I hope one day you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.”

After hearing the defendant’s statements, Stansbury noted he received a letter from Perry’s family regarding their feelings about sentencing.

Prosecutor Michael King said he believed a jail sentence was warranted in the case.

“It was the defendant’s fault, whether he meant to or not. He crossed the lane, went left of center, two deaths were involved. And he shouldn’t have been driving in the first place,” King said, noting he didn’t believe the defendant had any driving privileges at the time.

“Quite frankly, the court hates these cases,” Stansbury began, later going on to say he didn’t know either victims nor does he know the defendant, which he said to some extent, gave him the benefit of objectivit­y.

Before him, Stansbury said he had several options: to impose a sentence to punish the defendant for something he did without considerin­g why it happened, or rehabilita­tive sentencing. He noted he wasn’t sure either methods of sentencing were appropriat­e in that case.

“I think it’s important to also address the defendant did have methadone in his system,” Stansbury said, going on to explain some of his own research about how and why it’s used, and its effects.

He explained methadone treatment was first used after World War II when there was a heroin epidemic in New York City. The principal effects of methadone treatment, he said, are to relieve narcotic cravings and block the euphoric effects associated with heroin use.

Through his research, Stansbury said he didn’t find Oppenheime­r’s prescripti­on for methadone to be an aggravatin­g factor in the case.

The judge said in sentencing, the court also looks to see the impact not only on the defendant, but on people in his orbit, especially those who are innocent who will be adversely affected – namely, his children. He explained a pre-sentence investigat­ion report reflected Oppenheime­r is the sole custodial parent and provider for his children. The judge said he recognized a lengthy jail sentence imposed could result in Oppenheime­r’s children being taken into custody of children’s services or placed in foster care.

“As I said, I hate these cases. Nothing this court could do would bring Cindy or John back. Nothing this court could do will adequately punish the defendant for the pain and loss that he’s caused,” Stansbury said. “While I recognize the fact that this was an accident, what this court endeavors to do is to do no more harm. While I certainly understand Ms. Perry’s sister’s feelings regarding punishment for Mr. Oppenheime­r, the court finds that’s not appropriat­e in this case.”

Stansbury went on to impose 360 suspended days of jail time, four years of probation, and a six-month driver’s license suspension. He also ordered Oppenheime­r to pay a $1,000 fine, with $500 suspended.

 ?? MICHAELA SUMNER/NEWARK ADVOCATE ?? Ryan Oppenheime­r, left, sits next to his attorney, J. Matthew Dawson, during a sentencing hearing in Licking County Municipal Court on Monday.
MICHAELA SUMNER/NEWARK ADVOCATE Ryan Oppenheime­r, left, sits next to his attorney, J. Matthew Dawson, during a sentencing hearing in Licking County Municipal Court on Monday.

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