Driver gets 18 months following sixth OVI

James+Fraunfelter+III+and+his+attorney%2C+Kristopher+Hill%2C+turn+their+attention+to+the+prosecutor+as+he+requests+the+judge+follow+the+joint+recommendation+put+forth+by+both+parties.

Jessica Johnston

James Fraunfelter III and his attorney, Kristopher Hill, turn their attention to the prosecutor as he requests the judge follow the joint recommendation put forth by both parties.

By Jessica Johnston, Assistant News Director

After acquiring six OVIs over the course of 20 years, a Somerset man was sentenced to 18 months in prison following an accident in April.

James Fraunfelter III, 42, was involved in a single-vehicle accident on US-22 back in April.

According to the facts of the case, which were provided during his plea hearing in June, Fraunfelter was driving north along SR-345 when he failed to yield, slid across US-22 and into an embankment.

Fraunfelter told authorities that he did slide without stopping and ended up in the embankment. Upon a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol asking if he had been drinking, Fraunfelter responded that had not been drinking, although a passerby who saw the accident stopped and gave him a beer, Assistant Prosecuting John Litle stated in court during the plea hearing.

Later on, Fraunfelter retracted his statement and admitted to consuming beer before the accident.

Fraunfelter failed field sobriety tests at the scene of the accident and later took a breathalyzer test at the OSP post in which he blew a 0.172 BAC, which is over double the legal limit of 0.08 BAC.

In court, Fraunfelter said he mentioned in his pre-sentence investigation that he suspected it could have been his heart issues that caused the accident, but he knows it was due to alcohol.

His defense attorney, Kristopher Hill, stated that Fraunfelter does suffer from a large variety of health issues. He also said his client is the sole provider for his wife and two daughters who he hopes to continue to provide for, and continue on with his career, upon his release from prison.

In addition to his 18-month prison sentence, Fraunfelter’s license was suspended for 10 years, and he was ordered to pay mandatory fines. He also was required to forfeit the vehicle he was driving at the time.