A Lorain County grand jury has indicted 34-year-old Sean Bankston of Amherst on a slate of criminal charges after a Dec. 20 crash that severely injured a 65-year-old woman and killed her dog, according to family members and court records. The case has now shifted out of municipal OVI proceedings and into felony-level prosecution in Lorain County Common Pleas Court, while neighbors and animal advocates keep pressing for accountability tied to the dog’s death. Bankston remains in the Lorain County jail on a $250,000 bond as the county prepares for his arraignment.
Grand Jury Levels Multiple Felony Counts
The grand jury returned an indictment that includes aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, felonious assault, cruelty to companion animals, two counts of failure to stop after an accident and tampering with evidence, according to WKYC. The packet also lists misdemeanor counts, including obstructing official business and operation in willful and wanton disregard of safety, the station reports. Prosecutors highlighted Bankston’s prior criminal history in court, WKYC notes, and he is scheduled to be arraigned in Lorain County Common Pleas Court on February 19.
Crash Scene And Devastating Injuries
Police say the crash happened around 3:06 p.m. on Dec. 20 near Rome Beauty Drive and North Quarry Road, when a vehicle struck pedestrian Jessica (Jess) Paige and her dog Ishe as they walked. The dog died at the scene and Paige was thrown roughly 20 feet, WOIO reported. Family members and neighbors described devastating injuries, including a fractured skull, multiple broken ribs and both ankles, and said Paige has undergone several surgeries and remains hospitalized. Bond in the earlier municipal proceedings was set at $250,000, the station added.
Animal Advocates Turn Up The Heat
Local animal-welfare groups and neighbors have urged Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cilla to add a companion-animal charge, circulating a petition and a letter asking him to consider action under the state statute, News 5 Cleveland reported. The Lorain County Pit Crew and Lorain County Dog Kennel led the effort, pointing to Ohio’s companion-animal law and a recent case in the region as precedent. Family fundraising and neighborhood tributes, including green porch lights, have helped cover medical costs and show local support for Paige and her pets.
Law, Penalties And What Comes Next
Under Ohio law, knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal can be prosecuted under Ohio Revised Code §959.131, and certain violations of that section may be charged as a fifth-degree felony. A felony of the fifth degree carries a potential prison term of six to 12 months under Ohio Revised Code §2929.14. The grand-jury indictment moves the matter into county-level felony court, where arraignment, pretrial motions and discovery will determine which counts proceed to trial or are resolved through plea negotiations. Bankston has pleaded not guilty to the earlier municipal counts and remains in custody as Lorain County officials schedule the next steps in the prosecution.
