BORDERLAND

Toledo man released early after fatal crash

8/26/2014
BLADE STAFF

A Toledo man convicted in a fatal drunken-driving crash who was released early from prison was placed on electronic monitoring Monday after spending five weeks in the Lucas County Work Release Program.

Rodney Lewis, 43, told Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda he would live with his mother in Maumee, continue working at his painting job, and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as he completes five years of community control. Judge Zmuda agreed to let him complete his six-month work release on electronic monitoring.

In July, Judge Zmuda released Lewis from prison after he had served 33 months of a 54-month sentence for aggravated vehicular homicide for a 2011 crash that killed Rita Caufman, 66, of Perrysburg. Lewis, the judge said, had completed more classes and programs while in prison than any defendant he could recall.