(Updated at5:26 p.m. 10-23) After approximately one hour of deliberation, a jury of 10 women and two men
convicted Reggie Hohenberger of aggravated vehicular assault and domestic violence Friday.
Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Pollex set sentencing for Jan.5 at 2 p.m. The vehicular
assault charge is a fourth-degree felony which carries a penalty of six up to 18 months in prison. The
domestic violence charge is a first-degree misdemeanor.
The charges stemmed from a May 2008 incident in Perrysburg, when Hohenberger and his wife, Kathleen, were
said to have had words in a bar. After an incident within the bar, resulting in the domestic violence
charge, Hohenberger left the parking lot in his black Lincoln Navigator and shortly returned when the
SUV crossed a curb and a traffic island before striking his wife. She was hospitalized for her injuries
including having a rod inserted in her leg due to a broken femur.
On Thursday Pollex dismissed a third charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident, a fifth-degree
felony.
Following the jury verdict, the judge explained he needed to dismiss the fleeing the scene charge as a
matter of law. He indicated the fact that Hohenberger drove the SUV away from the scene following the
collision with his wife does not meet the legal standard cited.
Pollex stated there must be a request for him to remain and provide information; as well as the
requirement he file a report within 24 hours of an incident. There was no request for him to remain and
his report was filed within the required time.
The jury ruled on the remaining charges.
In his summation for the jury Wood County Assistant Prosecutor Aram Ohanion stressed to the jury they did
not have to conclude that Hohenberger intentionally struck his wife with the vehicle. Rather, the
burden, which he said he proved, and the jury subsequently agreed, is that “he acted recklessly” that
evening.
He was angry and he was driving angry,” Ohanion emphasized.
“Base your decisions on facts and put aside feeling,” he directed the jurors.
Attempting to counter the defense’s position, the case’s prosecutor emphasized “She didn’t hit that SUV;
that SUV hit her.”
He reviewed testimony regarding unsafe driving done by the defendant and noted his consumption of alcohol
that evening.
Despite a blood alcohol level of 0.16 as reported on a test on Hohenberger, alcohol was not part of the
charges as there was ample opportunity for him to have consumed more alcohol between the incident and
being tested.
Ohanion simply referred to the testimony which indicated he had been drinking.
Defense attorney Jerome Phillips argued the prosecution had not proven all elements of the case beyond
reasonable doubt.
“There are a number of things to which we admit, but others we do not,” Phillips stated.
He asserted that Hohenberger was merely trying to get away from an unfortunate scene. He never attempted
to strike his wife either within or outside the bar.
He compared his client hitting his wife with the SUV to an accident caused by a child running out from
between parked cars.
Although it was not an option given, Phillips told the jurors at worse, his client was negligent,
certainly not reckless.
The defendant did not take the stand in his own defense.
Ohanion countered that the jurors should not consider the short time between when Hohenberger crossed the
curb and struck his wife; but rather consider the fullness of his actions.
“He took off leaving her there. Use your common sense,” he charged the jury.
(File Photo: Reggie Hohenberger/ J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)
(Updated at5:26 p.m. 10-23) After approximately one hour of deliberation, a jury of 10 women and two men
convicted Reggie Hohenberger of aggravated vehicular assault and domestic violence Friday.
Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Pollex set sentencing for Jan.5 at 2 p.m. The vehicular
assault charge is a fourth-degree felony which carries a penalty of six up to 18 months in prison. The
domestic violence charge is a first-degree misdemeanor.
The charges stemmed from a May 2008 incident in Perrysburg, when Hohenberger and his wife, Kathleen, were
said to have had words in a bar. After an incident within the bar, resulting in the domestic violence
charge, Hohenberger left the parking lot in his black Lincoln Navigator and shortly returned when the
SUV crossed a curb and a traffic island before striking his wife. She was hospitalized for her injuries
including having a rod inserted in her leg due to a broken femur.
On Thursday Pollex dismissed a third charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident, a fifth-degree
felony.
Following the jury verdict, the judge explained he needed to dismiss the fleeing the scene charge as a
matter of law. He indicated the fact that Hohenberger drove the SUV away from the scene following the
collision with his wife does not meet the legal standard cited.
Pollex stated there must be a request for him to remain and provide information; as well as the
requirement he file a report within 24 hours of an incident. There was no request for him to remain and
his report was filed within the required time.
The jury ruled on the remaining charges.
In his summation for the jury Wood County Assistant Prosecutor Aram Ohanion stressed to the jury they did
not have to conclude that Hohenberger intentionally struck his wife with the vehicle. Rather, the
burden, which he said he proved, and the jury subsequently agreed, is that “he acted recklessly” that
evening.
He was angry and he was driving angry,” Ohanion emphasized.
“Base your decisions on facts and put aside feeling,” he directed the jurors.
Attempting to counter the defense’s position, the case’s prosecutor emphasized “She didn’t hit that SUV;
that SUV hit her.”
He reviewed testimony regarding unsafe driving done by the defendant and noted his consumption of alcohol
that evening.
Despite a blood alcohol level of 0.16 as reported on a test on Hohenberger, alcohol was not part of the
charges as there was ample opportunity for him to have consumed more alcohol between the incident and
being tested.
Ohanion simply referred to the testimony which indicated he had been drinking.
Defense attorney Jerome Phillips argued the prosecution had not proven all elements of the case beyond
reasonable doubt.
“There are a number of things to which we admit, but others we do not,” Phillips stated.
He asserted that Hohenberger was merely trying to get away from an unfortunate scene. He never attempted
to strike his wife either within or outside the bar.
He compared his client hitting his wife with the SUV to an accident caused by a child running out from
between parked cars.
Although it was not an option given, Phillips told the jurors at worse, his client was negligent,
certainly not reckless.
The defendant did not take the stand in his own defense.
Ohanion countered that the jurors should not consider the short time between when Hohenberger crossed the
curb and struck his wife; but rather consider the fullness of his actions.
“He took off leaving her there. Use your common sense,” he charged the jury.
(File Photo: Reggie Hohenberger/ J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)
