A Middletown man charged with aggravated vehicular homicide for a crash that killed a Rumpke employee last summer was arraigned today.
Brian Jankovich, 41, of Central Avenue, appeared in Butler County Common Pleas where Judge Greg Stephens released him on his own recognizance and ordered he wear an ankle monitor.
Jankovich’s attorney Frank Schiavone IV entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 14 for a pre-trial hearing.
INITIAL STORY: Rumpke worker dies after being pinned in Middletown crash
In addition to the second-degree felony, Jankovich was also indicted on vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, and vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the lesser charges were sought in the indictment because he did not want to take chances in this case.
“It is with an abundance of caution that I seek multiple charges in certain cases where a lesser included offense may be considered by a trier of fact — a jury,” Gmoser said. “I never want a situation to arise where a judge states that the principal charge is all that may be considered by because no lesser included offense was also included in an indictment.”
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David J. Evans, 52, of Cincinnati, had stopped the Rumpke truck on Central Avenue near Marshall Road about 6:30 a.m. July 30. A tan 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, operated by Jankovich, struck Evans and pinned him against the rear of the Rumpke truck, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol’s preliminary report.
Evans was transported by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead later on July 30.
Jankovich was transported to Atrium Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Rumpke officials said Evans had been an employee for about 15 years.
Evan’s family was in the courtroom for arraignment but declined to comment.
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