Ex-firefighter gets 9 months in jail for killing man on way to fire station

9/24/2012

PORT CLINTON -- A former volunteer firefighter who struck a car killing one of the occupants on his way to the fire station was sentenced today to nine months in jail. 

Visiting Ottawa County Common Pleas Judge Paul Moon also ordered that Timothy Johnson, 43, of rural Oak Harbor have his driver's license suspended for three years. Mr. Johnson, who has been free on bond, was handcuffed and taken to jail after the sentencing. Judge Moon said it would be up to the Ottawa County sheriff to determine whether he would be eligible for work release while he is in jail.

Mr. Johnson had been indicted and gone to trial on felony charges stemming from the July 16, 2010, crash that killed Ian Huffman, 24, of Elmore, and seriously injured Mr. Huffman's girfriend, Olivia Duty, now 22, of Woodville. His trial last year ended in a mistrial after Judge Moon declared that special prosecutor Ken Egbert, Jr., had committed prosecutorial misconduct by introducing testimony without sharing it in advance with the defense.

In a plea agreement with prosecutors in July, Mr. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count each of negligent vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, and attempted negligent homicide, a second-degree misdemeanor.