TOBY TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A Rimersburg man is due to be sentenced this week on an aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI charge stemming from a February 17 DUI crash in Toby Township, Clarion County.
According to court documents, President Judge James G. Arner is scheduled to sentence 61-year-old Dennis Scott Horner at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28.
Horner pleaded guilty to one second-degree felony count of Aggravated Assault By Vehicle while DUI, one first-degree misdemeanor count of DUI: Highest Rate of Alcohol (BAC .16+) 2nd Offense, and one summary count of Driving While BAC .02 or Greater While License Suspended on October 3.
The following charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement:
– Accident Involving Death/Injury-Not Properly Licensed, Felony 3
– DUI: Highest Rate of Alcohol (BAC .16+) 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– Habitual Offenders, Misdemeanor 2
– Driving Unregistered Vehicle, Summary
– Fail To Carry Registration, Summary
– Notice Of Change Of Name Or Address, Summary
– Fail To Replace Lost Plates, Summary
– Allow Illegal Use Of Plate/Card, Summary
– Display Plate Card In Improper Vehicle, Summary
– Driving W/O A License, Summary
– Fail To Comply License Restrict, Summary
– Operating Vehicle W/O Req’d Financial Responsibility, Summary
– Fail To Keep Right, Summary
– Fail to Yield Right, Summary
– Disregard Traffic Lane (Single), Summary
– Driving at Safe Speed, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary
– Restrictions on Alcoholic Beverages, Summary
– Fail to use safety belt – driver and front seat occupant, Summary
– Operating Vehicle W/O Valid Inspection, Summary
Unable to post $75,000.00 cash bail, he remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
Details of the case:
Around 7:37 p.m. on February 17, Trooper Shapiro was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on State Route 68 in Toby Township. When he arrived on the scene, he found two vehicles off the roadway, both with heavy damage to the 11 o’clock positions. One vehicle was a blue Chevy Blazer operated by a known man, and the other vehicle was a white Dodge Caravan operated by Dennis Horner, according to a criminal complaint.
Horner was already being transported to the hospital when Trooper Shapiro arrived on scene. During the investigation, it was discovered that Horner had crossed over the double yellow line and struck the other vehicle head-on.
While investigating the crash, Trooper Shapiro discovered the following conditions concerning Dennis Horner:
– His vehicle had multiple empty containers of alcoholic beverages inside;
– He does not possess insurance for the vehicle;
– He does not possess a valid driver license due to his license being suspended;
– He has been labeled as a Habitual Offender;
– He does not have the vehicle properly registered;
– He took plates off an older vehicle and placed it on the vehicle he was operating; and
– The vehicle was not inspected.
Horner had been determined as at fault for the crash, according to the complaint.
Around 9:00 p.m. Horner was interviewed at Clarion Hospital Emergency Room. Horner smelled of alcoholic beverage and had bloodshot eyes. He told Trooper Shapiro that he did not know what happened with the crash. He declined a blood draw, the complaint states.
Trooper Shapiro obtained a search warrant for Horner’s blood that was taken at Clarion Hospital. His BAC at the time of the crash was .287%.
The driver of the Chevy Blazer suffered multiple injuries, including a broken leg which has required multiple surgeries since the time of the crash, as well as other injuries associated with being hit head-on by Horner. A passenger in the Chevy Blazer also sustained minor injuries from the crash.
