PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — The case of James Stumbo, the Washington Court House man involved in a fatal head-on crash on U.S. Route 62 last year, took a surprising turn this week in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court.
Stumbo, 59, pleaded no contest to a single count of aggravated vehicular homicide, which was amended from a second-degree felony to a first-degree misdemeanor (M1). As part of the plea agreement, two additional counts of operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) were dismissed.
The court has ordered a pre-sentencing investigation (PSI) before determining Stumbo’s final punishment.
Under Ohio law, a first-degree misdemeanor charge of vehicular homicide typically applies when a death results from negligent driving or speeding in a construction zone. The offense carries potential penalties of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, and a driver’s license suspension ranging from one to five years.
The plea stems from a September 16, 2024 crash that killed 38-year-old Clint Simmons of Washington Court House. According to investigators, Stumbo was driving southbound on U.S. Route 62 in a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado when he crossed the center line and struck Simmons’ Ford Ecosport head-on. Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene, while Stumbo was airlifted to Grant Medical Center with injuries.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol led the investigation with assistance from the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office and multiple local fire and EMS departments.
Stumbo’s sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the PSI that was ordered by Judge Chafin in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court.
