BUCYRUS — Cory L. Pierce, 49, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide charges in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.
Pierce was charged in an accident that killed Lyle Roberts of Galion. Roberts’ passenger, Samantha Matney, was seriously injured in the accident.
Pierce was charged with distracted driving (texting), operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and intimidating a witness.
The first-degree misdemeanor charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and intimidating a witness were dismissed.
Before beginning the sentencing process, Judge Sean Leuthold addressed the many people in attendance of the sentencing and asked them to refrain from expressing emotion or outbursts.
Before imposing sentence, Leuthold asked Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall if he had any comment. Crall said the event was horrible, but he felt that the victim’s daughter had a powerful impact statement.
With the assistance of Victim Advocate James Scott, the daughter of Lyle Roberts approached the podium to read a prepared statement.
Ashley Allison spoke of the senseless tragedy that took her father from her family. She told the court that Roberts was the only parent she and her sister had known.
“I drove from West Virginia here today to see justice for my father. He was big hearted and still had a full life ahead of him,” Allison said.
Allison told the court her father was the glue that held the family together. She also said he was very close to his own siblings and they were grieving as well.
“I want to share milestones with him, but I can’t,” Allison said. “I want to call him because it’s been too long since I talked with him but I can’t. I found out I was pregnant three weeks after he died and I couldn’t tell him.”
Often tearful and taking several breaks to compose her thoughts, Allison recalled how her father always supported their activities and events. He would often babysit so she could attend school parties for her son.
“He taught me how to be a good mother when I never had a mother,” Allison said.
Allison declared to the court that she resented Pierce because he had no regard for the law.
“He drove a car that did not belong to him while under suspension and drunk,” she said. “He did all this while texting. He even tried to harass the witness who saw him texting because he did not want to pay for his crimes. He gave us a life sentence without my father, Lyle Roberts.”
Following the lengthy statement, Leuthold told the family he understood their pain. He also explained the strategy behind the sentencing.
“The prosecutor had a tough decision here,” Leuthold said. “He fought zealously for the victim in this case. Mr. Spitzer fought equally for his client; that’s his job. The state had to make a decision to either offer this sentence or take a chance at trial and perhaps Mr. Pierce would walk away with no punishment. A jury would have to unanimously agree that he was indeed guilty.”
Leuthold imposed the agreed sentence of 48 months in prison. Pierce also received a lifetime driver’s license suspension and must forfeit all license plates to the state.