Trenton man gets jailtime for crash that killed ‘Mr. Waynesville’

Crash also seriously injured victim’s wife

A Trenton man was sentenced to jail this week for causing crash in January that killed a Waynesville man and seriously injured that man’s wife.

Richard Bryan Latino, 36, pleaded guilty in October to reduced misdemeanor charges for the Jan. 18 crash in Lemon Twp., according to court records.

Credit: Butler County Jail

Credit: Butler County Jail

Latino originally was indicted for aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony, and vehicular assault, a fourth-degree felony. He entered guilty pleas to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, both first-degree misdemeanors.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers II sentenced Latino on Tuesday to six months in jail on both charges to run consecutive. Latino will serve the sentence in the Butler County Jail. Powers also suspended his driver’s license for five years.

Lonnie D. Schear, 70, died in the crash that happened about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18 on Oxford State Road near Radabaugh Road. His wife, Connie Schear, 69, was injured and taken by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

Schear, of West Ellis Drive in Waynesville, was a longtime Lebanon Citizens National Bank employee and was a local leader involved in community events including the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival.

“Lonnie was pretty much Mr. Waynesville,” Eric Meilstrup, president of what is now known as LCNB Bank, said in January.

Latino’s vehicle went left of center while traveling east on Ohio 73 (Oxford State) and collided head-on into Schear’s vehicle that was westbound on Oxford State.

Schear’s vehicle spun sideways and was struck by a third westbound vehicle.

Latino also was injured and taken by medical helicopter to University of Cincinnati Hospital for treatment.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the reduced charges hold Latino accountable for his negligent actions, but the facts of the case did not rise to the level of recklessly operating a vehicle to warrant a felony conviction.

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