By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
August 08, 2008 03:42 am
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JEFFERSON — Angela Ball sobbed into her hands Thursday afternoon as Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Yost sentenced the convicted drunk driver to 10 years at the Ohio State Reformatory for Women, in Marysville.
Ball, 28, of Saybrook Township, drove her vehicle into another car April 8, killing 71-year-old Richard Turner, of Geneva, and his dog, as she was fleeing a traffic stop by police on Route 534 for speeding.
Ball, who was drunk at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and failure to comply. She received eight years in Turner’s death and two years for having fled police.
Yost called the case “one of the most aggravated cases of this nature.”
“There are facts of this case that make it particularly aggravated,” Yost said. “Not just in the death of someone but in that (Ball) was pulled over and fled from police; that she was under the influence and had a combative attitude while in treatment.”
Ball shook visibly and held a single sheet of wrinkled paper in her lap as she apologized to Turner’s family.
“I know — no matter what I say … can bring back your father, grandfather and friend,” Ball said through tears. “I can’t say how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt you, and I am truly torn inside by the tragedy I have caused.”
Ball’s attorney, Jane Timonere, said she is certain Ball can be saved by the corrections system.
“Angela Ball is not trying to make excuses or minimize the effects of her actions,” Timonere said. “But this is a woman who can be saved by our system in our system.”
Timonere also noted Ball’s injuries from the crash and said fear and anger over an argument with her then-boyfriend pushed Ball to drive drunk that day.
Ashtabula County assistant prosecutor Harold Specht Jr. said he isn’t buying Ball’s story of remorse and said Ball admitted to having drunk beer and tequila all day April 8.
“Marijuana was also found in her system,” he said.
Specht said Ball’s own children have been victims of their mother’s destructive behavior.
“(Ball) has an extensive juvenile and adult record and a long history of alcohol-related incidents,” Specht said. “She is notorious in the children’s services department for her alcohol-related violations that involve her children.”
In 2005, one of Ball’s young daughters fell out of a car window as Ball drove, Specht said. The fall crushed the child’s pelvis, he said.
“Police have found those children living is squalor,” Specht said. “In fact, she will be sentenced tomorrow in Ashtabula Municipal Court on child-endangering charges.”
Specht said Ball spat at hospital personnel after the crash and bit a nurse. He also said she was terminated from the Turning Point Rehabilitation Center in Ashtabula Township, where she spent 53 days combating the staff before being removed from the program. A letter from the rehab center director, which was addressed to the court, said Ball made “no progress while in treatment.”
While Specht asked for the maximum 13-year sentence, Yost sentenced Ball to eight years for aggravated vehicular homicide and two years for failure to comply. The sentences will be served consecutively, with no credit for jail time served or her time in treatment. Ball never will hold a driver’s license and is subject to three years of postrelease control. Violation of that order will result in the imposition of an additional five-year sentence, Yost said.
Ball also is ordered to pay the Turner family $11,080, the cost of Richard Turner’s funeral.
Ball moaned, “Oh, God,” and wailed as Yost spoke. Ball’s family apologized to Turner’s children as they exited the courtroom.
“You have a serious alcohol problem,” Yost told Ball. “I hope you take advantage of the programs and services available to you.”
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