A 37-year-old Hebron woman is facing her fifth lifetime OVI charge after an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper pulled her over on Refugee Road in Pickerington late Friday night. Candace N. Howell Rudolph also faces charges of driving under an active OVI suspension, distracted driving, and a left-of-center violation.
The trooper spotted Howell Rudolph's vehicle crossing left of center on Refugee Road on Sept. 11, according to WSYX. After stopping the car, the trooper reported observing signs that Howell Rudolph was impaired, leading to her arrest on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs and/or alcohol. She is now being held at the Fairfield County Jail.
Court records cited in the report show Howell Rudolph already has four prior lifetime OVI convictions, including a felony OVI conviction from 2024. Because that 2024 case was a felony, any new OVI charge against her is automatically elevated to a third-degree felony under Ohio law, regardless of how much time has passed since the earlier conviction, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.19(G)(1)(e). That statute means Friday's arrest will stand as her second felony OVI offense, per the report.
What a Second Felony OVI Conviction Could Mean
Under Ohio Revised Code 4511.19, a driver with a prior felony OVI conviction faces a third-degree felony charge carrying a statutory prison range of one to five years if convicted again, according to the Huey Defense Firm. Prosecutors could also seek a repeat-OVI specification in this case only if the charging instrument and prior-record evidence establish five or more qualifying prior equivalent convictions or guilty pleas within twenty years, under Ohio Revised Code 2941.1413.
Separately, a felony OVI conviction in Ohio carries a mandatory driver's license suspension ranging from three years up to a lifetime ban, along with required ignition interlock devices, restricted license plates, and the possibility of vehicle forfeiture, according to MFC Law. The article separately discusses those administrative penalties and any prison sentence handed down in the criminal case.
Distracted Driving Charge Adds to the Case
The distracted driving citation against Howell Rudolph stems from Ohio Senate Bill 288, which took effect in April 2023 and restricted holding or physically supporting a mobile device while driving, subject to exceptions, according to the City of Westerville. The law includes fines of up to $150 and two license points for a first violation. Before that law, adult distracted driving was only a secondary offense, meaning officers needed a separate reason to pull a driver over first.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol conducts traffic enforcement.
Enforcement Push Was Already Underway That Night
The Ohio State Highway Patrol had scheduled targeted OVI checkpoints in Fairfield and Miami counties. Post 23, headquartered in Lancaster, has been mentioned in prior reporting by Hoodline.
Refugee Road in Pickerington is where the traffic stop occurred. Hoodline reported in March that a 79-year-old woman died in a crash near Refugee Road in Violet Township, underscoring the corridor's ongoing safety concerns.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said impaired driving remains a significant threat to public safety and is encouraging the public to call #677 to report dangerous or impaired driving on Ohio roadways.
