The attorney for a 32-year-old Perrysville man accused of shooting an Ontario police officer and a woman during a domestic disturbance that turned into a standoff and hostage situation has filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Terry Hitchman filed on behalf of Jareth Vance , who faces 42 counts, including four counts of attempted aggravated murder and four counts of attempted murder, for a Feb. 11 incident.
Of the 42 charges, 37 are felonies, and 27 carry a gun specification. The weapon alleged to have been involved was a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.
The court had ordered an evaluation of Vance by the District V Diagnostic Forensic Center in Mansfield. Hitchman followed with the plea on behalf of his client.
Vance was scheduled for a July 9 trial before Richland County Common Pleas Judge Phil Naumoff.
Prosecutor's office seeking independent evaluation
Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher said she would not stipulate to the report.
"The court is holding another status conference in two weeks to give us time to find an expert to do an independent evaluation," she said. "In two weeks, I anticipate having an expert identified."
Hitchman also has requested a mitigation specialist to review Vance's background.
Mitigation specialists speak for the dignity and value of those who have committed even the worst criminal acts. When a criminal defendant faces a death sentence, for example, a mitigation specialist will tell his story to the jury in order to advocate for his life.
Vance's case does not involve the death penalty.
James Crates will handle the mitigation report.
"At some point along the way, we're going to need to be talking about some sort of disposing of the case, and I want to be able to talk about his background," attorney Hitchman said. "This kind of puts things on hold until these things are taken care of.
"His job is to collect records from any agency or institution that a person may have been involved with. He will do an extensive background for Jareth."
Vance also is charged with aggravated burglary, seven counts of felonious assault, 11 counts of kidnapping, aggravated arson, six counts of menacing by stalking, inducing panic, disrupting public services, possessing criminal tools, aggravated menacing, two counts of attempted cruelty to companion animals, and theft.
The last five counts are misdemeanors.
Most of the charges relate to a Feb. 11 disturbance in the 1000 block of the Landings Court housing complex in Ontario.
Ontario police officer who was shot has not returned to duty
Ontario police Officer Dylan Bailey suffered three gunshot wounds, two to a leg and a third to an elbow. A police lieutenant told the News Journal that Bailey has not returned to work.
A Galion woman who reportedly was being held hostage inside the home sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower extremities as she tried to flee.
Injuries to the shooting victims were not life-threatening. A four-hour standoff ensued before Vance surrendered.
In the aggravated burglary charge, Vance is accused of trespassing in a Richland County residence on Feb. 11.
Alleged victims of the kidnapping counts include six children between the ages of 7 and 17.
The six charges of menacing by stalking reportedly occurred between Jan. 28 and Feb. 11. In two of those counts, Vance allegedly threatened the victim. In another, he is alleged to have had a handgun.
Ontario police Chief Tommy Hill previously said an incident in Crawford County between Vance and the alleged female victim happened before the standoff and continued into Richland County.
There had been friction in the relationship, Hill previously said. Police later learned the woman had a no contact order against Vance.
When police arrived at the Landings Court residence, they reported seeing a man holding a woman hostage at gunpoint.
Vance is being held in the county jail on a $1 million cash bond. Terms of his bond include no contact the the victims, their families or the residence of the victim.
Vance is not allowed to possess or own a firearm and has to take all his medication prescribed by the attending physician, as well as psychological treatment.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ontario standoff/hostage situation: Lawyer files plea of not guilty by reason of insanity
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