Insanity finding for Lezak
Thursday, May 26, 2016
IN TODAY’S NEWS
Insanity finding for Lezak By STEVEN F. HUSZAI Staff Writer
Back in front Cavaliers rout Raptors in return home to take 3-2 lead in Eastern Conference finals. – B1 Council puts Deer Run Park pavilion on hold Millersburg opts to let deadline for Nature Works grant pass for this year. – A6
50¢ DAILY
WOOSTER — There was no question Nicholai Lezak was driving a 2002 Ford Escape at a speed three times the speed limit when he crashed into a College of Wooster professor’s vehicle and killed her. Nevertheless, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday morning. Lezak, 37, 2194 Ryan Court, Wooster, was indicted on charges of felony aggravated vehicular homicide and a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter after he was involved in a crash Feb. 7, 2015, which killed Melissa Schultz of Wooster. Lezak entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on
those charges. He was determined in several evaluations to be competent to stand trial, but the issue in two reports was whether Lezak understood the “wrongfulness” of his actions at the time of the crash. As Judge Mark K. Wiest read from one of the forensic psychologists who performed mental health evaluations on him, it became clear that “(Lezak) was psychotic ... and hallucinating at the time.” “There’s no question that Mr. Lezak was operating a motor vehicle ... and caused the death of Melissa Schultz,” Wiest said Mike Schenk photo/www.buydrphotos.com in court, before finding him not Nicholai Lezak (right), 37, talks with his attorney, Andrew guilty by reason of insanity. Hyde, Wednesday during a bench trial to hear the facts surWhat the judge noted instead rounding his involvement and mental state on Feb. 7, 2015, is the issue of how culpable he is when he was driving a vehicle that crashed into and killed Melissa Schultz. Lezak was found not guilty by reason of See Pg. A8 — INSANITY insanity.
Celebrating restoration Brothers granted judicial release
An eighth healthy habit Wooster Township students help each other find their voices with talent show. – A6
By BOBBY WARREN Staff Writer
What’s Up Featuring upcoming entertainment events throughout the Wayne and Holmes counties area. – A10 Deaths Beachy, Levi, 89, Sarasota, Fla. Fay, Virginia, 92, Massillon Forrer, Dorothy, 95, Orrville Hartman, Paul, 89, Millersburg Mosher, Ricky, 56, Orrville Stahl, Howard, 88, Wooster Troyer, Darwin, 81, Sugarcreek Yoder, Mary, 90, Fredericksburg – A3,5 Index
Business............................A3 Classifieds.......... B5-6,8-10 Comics/crossword............B7 Editorial.............................A4 Living.................................A7 Nation/World.....................A8 Region...........................A5-6 Sports...........................B1-4 State.................................A3 What’s Up?..................... A10
Find us on
Paul Locher photo/www.buydrphotos.com
The Wayne County delegation to the Celebration of Preservation in Cleveland on Tuesday poses with a certificate of recognition on the grand staircase overlooking the newly restored lobby of the Ohio Theater. From left are budget director Carol Zemrock, commissioners Scott Wiggam and Ann Obrecht, and county administrator Patrick Herron.
Courthouse honored among Northeast Ohio projects By PAUL LOCHER Staff Writer CLEVELAND — The Wayne County Courthouse restoration project took center stage Tuesday night in Playhouse Square where hundreds of people involved in the historic restoration field throughout the Northeast Ohio region gathered for a Celebration of Preservation. The glittering affair was held downtown in the Ohio Theater, where attendees were among the first to get a look at the just-completed $5.3 million restoration of the 1921 neoclassical lobby that was destroyed
in a July 4, 1964 fire. It was the perfect setting for the gathering, which brought together public officials, architects, construction firms, contractors, historians, specialty tradesmen and craftsmen, representatives of financial organizations and businesses that support restoration. This year’s celebration turned the spotlight on 14 historical restoration projects in the Northeast Ohio area, one of which was the Wayne County Courthouse. The courthouse restoration project was in good company, joined by Old Stone Church on Cleveland’s Public Square, the
University Circle United Methodist Church, Phoenix Block in downtown Ravenna, Ohio City Post Office, State Theatre at Playhouse Square, Goodyear Hall in Akron, Heinen’s Ameritrust Rotunda, Schofield Hotel in Cleveland, and other such undertakings that ranged from small companies to private residences. Speakers for each of the projects talked about the history of the structure and the unique challenges inherent in the restoration process. Such challenges ranged from navigating a complicated financial maze See Pg. A8 — CELEBRATING
MILLERSBURG — Two brothers serving a 14-month prison sentence related to the death of their mother were free men, for the most part, after Holmes County Common Pleas D. Bevington Judge Robert Rinfret granted both judicial release Wednesday. In December, Dennis Carl Bevington, 55, and Gary Lee G. Bevington Bevington, 62, both of 833 Depot St., pleaded guilty in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to failure to provide for a functionally impaired person. In exchange for their pleas, the more serious charges of involuntary manslaughter were dismissed. They could have faced 11 years in prison. The charges stem from the Oct. 13, 2014, death of their 84-yearold mother, Delores Bevington. Dennis Bevington was represented by Mark Baserman Sr., and Gary Bevington was represented by Jeff Kellogg. About a month after the two were sentenced in February to the Richland Correctional Institution, both attorneys filed motions for judicial release of their clients. Prosecutor Steve Knowling opposed Gary Bevington’s release, but not that of his brother. In a succinctly written memo See Pg. A8 — RELEASE
Fredericksburg memorial flag vandalized Flag missing from annual patriotic display By PAUL LOCHER Staff Writer FREDERICKSBURG — For the next six weeks or so, the village will be a red, white and blue bastion of patriotism; the
Vol. 116 • No. 351
WO-10470218
kind of in-your-face display of flag-waving people come from far and wide to revel in. It’s something the community is proud of, and lots of residents turn out every year to make it happen. The idea to drape the town in American flags between Memorial Day and Independence Day started six years ago, the brainchild of Missy Sidle and the American Legion Auxiliary. The 62-member Auxiliary
decided to ask people to donate flags in the name of a U.S. serviceman, be they active duty, retired or deceased. A colored ribbon tied around the pole denoted that status. On each utility pole in town where a flag donated by the family was displayed, the Legion included in a waterproof pocket a photograph and biography of the service member being honored, telling something about their experience in uniform.
The first year there were 170 flags displayed by people from all over Ohio seeking a way to memorialize their military hero. A man from Coshocton bought 40 flags to proudly honor all of his forebears who had served. But with an aging population of veterans and other communities copying Fredericksburg’s program, the number of flags this year has declined to 100. See Pg. A9 — VANDALIZED
IN TODAY’S NEWS
Insanity finding for Lezak By STEVEN F. HUSZAI Staff Writer
Back in front Cavaliers rout Raptors in return home to take 3-2 lead in Eastern Conference finals. – B1 Council puts Deer Run Park pavilion on hold Millersburg opts to let deadline for Nature Works grant pass for this year. – A6
50¢ DAILY
WOOSTER — There was no question Nicholai Lezak was driving a 2002 Ford Escape at a speed three times the speed limit when he crashed into a College of Wooster professor’s vehicle and killed her. Nevertheless, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday morning. Lezak, 37, 2194 Ryan Court, Wooster, was indicted on charges of felony aggravated vehicular homicide and a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter after he was involved in a crash Feb. 7, 2015, which killed Melissa Schultz of Wooster. Lezak entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on
those charges. He was determined in several evaluations to be competent to stand trial, but the issue in two reports was whether Lezak understood the “wrongfulness” of his actions at the time of the crash. As Judge Mark K. Wiest read from one of the forensic psychologists who performed mental health evaluations on him, it became clear that “(Lezak) was psychotic ... and hallucinating at the time.” “There’s no question that Mr. Lezak was operating a motor vehicle ... and caused the death of Melissa Schultz,” Wiest said Mike Schenk photo/www.buydrphotos.com in court, before finding him not Nicholai Lezak (right), 37, talks with his attorney, Andrew guilty by reason of insanity. Hyde, Wednesday during a bench trial to hear the facts surWhat the judge noted instead rounding his involvement and mental state on Feb. 7, 2015, is the issue of how culpable he is when he was driving a vehicle that crashed into and killed Melissa Schultz. Lezak was found not guilty by reason of See Pg. A8 — INSANITY insanity.
Celebrating restoration Brothers granted judicial release
An eighth healthy habit Wooster Township students help each other find their voices with talent show. – A6
By BOBBY WARREN Staff Writer
What’s Up Featuring upcoming entertainment events throughout the Wayne and Holmes counties area. – A10 Deaths Beachy, Levi, 89, Sarasota, Fla. Fay, Virginia, 92, Massillon Forrer, Dorothy, 95, Orrville Hartman, Paul, 89, Millersburg Mosher, Ricky, 56, Orrville Stahl, Howard, 88, Wooster Troyer, Darwin, 81, Sugarcreek Yoder, Mary, 90, Fredericksburg – A3,5 Index
Business............................A3 Classifieds.......... B5-6,8-10 Comics/crossword............B7 Editorial.............................A4 Living.................................A7 Nation/World.....................A8 Region...........................A5-6 Sports...........................B1-4 State.................................A3 What’s Up?..................... A10
Find us on
Paul Locher photo/www.buydrphotos.com
The Wayne County delegation to the Celebration of Preservation in Cleveland on Tuesday poses with a certificate of recognition on the grand staircase overlooking the newly restored lobby of the Ohio Theater. From left are budget director Carol Zemrock, commissioners Scott Wiggam and Ann Obrecht, and county administrator Patrick Herron.
Courthouse honored among Northeast Ohio projects By PAUL LOCHER Staff Writer CLEVELAND — The Wayne County Courthouse restoration project took center stage Tuesday night in Playhouse Square where hundreds of people involved in the historic restoration field throughout the Northeast Ohio region gathered for a Celebration of Preservation. The glittering affair was held downtown in the Ohio Theater, where attendees were among the first to get a look at the just-completed $5.3 million restoration of the 1921 neoclassical lobby that was destroyed
in a July 4, 1964 fire. It was the perfect setting for the gathering, which brought together public officials, architects, construction firms, contractors, historians, specialty tradesmen and craftsmen, representatives of financial organizations and businesses that support restoration. This year’s celebration turned the spotlight on 14 historical restoration projects in the Northeast Ohio area, one of which was the Wayne County Courthouse. The courthouse restoration project was in good company, joined by Old Stone Church on Cleveland’s Public Square, the
University Circle United Methodist Church, Phoenix Block in downtown Ravenna, Ohio City Post Office, State Theatre at Playhouse Square, Goodyear Hall in Akron, Heinen’s Ameritrust Rotunda, Schofield Hotel in Cleveland, and other such undertakings that ranged from small companies to private residences. Speakers for each of the projects talked about the history of the structure and the unique challenges inherent in the restoration process. Such challenges ranged from navigating a complicated financial maze See Pg. A8 — CELEBRATING
MILLERSBURG — Two brothers serving a 14-month prison sentence related to the death of their mother were free men, for the most part, after Holmes County Common Pleas D. Bevington Judge Robert Rinfret granted both judicial release Wednesday. In December, Dennis Carl Bevington, 55, and Gary Lee G. Bevington Bevington, 62, both of 833 Depot St., pleaded guilty in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to failure to provide for a functionally impaired person. In exchange for their pleas, the more serious charges of involuntary manslaughter were dismissed. They could have faced 11 years in prison. The charges stem from the Oct. 13, 2014, death of their 84-yearold mother, Delores Bevington. Dennis Bevington was represented by Mark Baserman Sr., and Gary Bevington was represented by Jeff Kellogg. About a month after the two were sentenced in February to the Richland Correctional Institution, both attorneys filed motions for judicial release of their clients. Prosecutor Steve Knowling opposed Gary Bevington’s release, but not that of his brother. In a succinctly written memo See Pg. A8 — RELEASE
Fredericksburg memorial flag vandalized Flag missing from annual patriotic display By PAUL LOCHER Staff Writer FREDERICKSBURG — For the next six weeks or so, the village will be a red, white and blue bastion of patriotism; the
Vol. 116 • No. 351
WO-10470218
kind of in-your-face display of flag-waving people come from far and wide to revel in. It’s something the community is proud of, and lots of residents turn out every year to make it happen. The idea to drape the town in American flags between Memorial Day and Independence Day started six years ago, the brainchild of Missy Sidle and the American Legion Auxiliary. The 62-member Auxiliary
decided to ask people to donate flags in the name of a U.S. serviceman, be they active duty, retired or deceased. A colored ribbon tied around the pole denoted that status. On each utility pole in town where a flag donated by the family was displayed, the Legion included in a waterproof pocket a photograph and biography of the service member being honored, telling something about their experience in uniform.
The first year there were 170 flags displayed by people from all over Ohio seeking a way to memorialize their military hero. A man from Coshocton bought 40 flags to proudly honor all of his forebears who had served. But with an aging population of veterans and other communities copying Fredericksburg’s program, the number of flags this year has declined to 100. See Pg. A9 — VANDALIZED
