Motorist in fatal crash held for parole breach

2/13/2006

BOWLING GREEN A Wood County man in jail for violating parole since he struck and killed a Bowling Green attorney Jan. 11 was recently found to be a parole violator.

David W. Harris, 36, of Bairdstown, remains in the Wood County jail.

Joellen Culp, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, said Harris would remain in custody at least until April when the parole board meets to determine what his sanction will be.

In 1993, Harris was sentenced to seven to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him of felonious assault for striking and injuring a bicyclist in Bowling Green.

According to ODRC records, he was first paroled Dec. 1, 2003, but was returned to prison for violating parole March 18, 2005. He was released again Nov. 7.

Two months later, on Jan. 11, Harris was driving north on Emerson Road in southern Wood County about 8:30 a.m. when he struck Bowling Green attorney Jodie Stearns as she was jogging along the edge of the rural road. She died later that day at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Harris has not been charged in that incident.