(1-22-24) In May of 2013 Ryan Billenstein a 28-year-old from Coldwater was sentenced to 13 years in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide for a July 14, 2012 accident which occurred on Ohio 119 and Fleetwood Road that claimed the lives of two men.
The two victims were Craig A. Gengler (22) of Celina, and Vincent A. Gragorace (21) of Greenville, died in the accident while Bethany Marie Wentworth (21) of Greenville sustained serious injuries.
Toxicology tests administered to Billenstein after the 2:58 a.m. accident detected the presence of alcohol and marijuana in Billenstein’s system. His blood-alcohol content was 0.11; a driver is considered legally impaired at a level of 0.08 and over.
Tomorrow in Mercer County Common Pleas Court former Judge Jeff Ingraham, will step in for current Judge Matt Fox. Ingraham was the judge and Fox was the County Prosecutor during the case in 2013. The Supreme Court made the decision to remove Fox and assign Ingraham in the position to oversee the hearing.
Billenstein, now 39, has asked for Judicial Release from his 13 year sentence.
A judicial release is essentially an optional act of leniency based on certain eligibility criteria and the offender’s conduct while in custody. Judicial release decisions are under the judge’s discretion and must be initiated by a motion for judicial release.
Motions for judicial release can either be made by the offender or a lawyer working on their behalf.
Billenstein was transported to the Mercer County Adult Detention Center to be able to attend the hearing.
Mercer County Outlook 