Butler Countyโ Sheriff Condemns policies Enabling Repeat Offender in Alleged DUI Crash Injuring Nurse
Butler County, Ohio – Butler County Sheriff Richardโข Jones is sharply criticizingโข what โฃhe calls failuresโ withinโฃ law enforcement and immigration policies following the arrest ofโข Perez-Ventura, an undocumented immigrant,โ in connection with a recentโ head-on collision that severely injured registered nurse Courtney Steinmetz. The crash occurred afterโ authorities allege Perez-Ventura was driving under the influence andโ an open container of alcohol was found in hisโ vehicle.
Steinmetz, 27, suffered โคa spine injury, broken wrist, and broken ankle in the crash and faces โa lengthy recovery, potentiallyโฃ with lifelong complications, according to Jones. “she’s living her dream, working at the hospital as an RN, saving people’s lives. Now โtoday, she’s lying in theโฃ hospital,”โ Jonesโข stated. “She’s not even out of theโ bedโค yet.She’ll probably have issues the rest of her life with โher spine.”
Sheriff Jones revealed that Perez-Ventura had previously been incarcerated for DUI and assault โand had been deported twice prior โขto the incident. He alleges that other โjurisdictions likely avoided detaining Perez-Ventura to preventโค further deportation proceedings. “They probably didn’t โwant to send him to โขmy jail because he โขwould โbeโ deported,” Jones said.
Perez-Ventura, speakingโฃ throughโ anโ interpreter, claimed heโ was not the driverโ due to being on probation for aโฃ prior offense.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Steinmetz with medical expenses, lost wages,โ and herโ insurance โdeductible, as Perez-Ventura did not โhave insurance. Notably, a family member sharedโฃ on the crowdfunding โsite that Steinmetz expressed concern for the well-being ofโ the driver โคdespite her injuries.
Jones expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “He doesn’t care. โYou look at hisโค mugโ shot, he has aโฃ smirk on his face.” He vowed Perez-Ventura would remain in theโข Butler County jail and ultimately be deported afterโข serving time in prison. “He’ll get a cell until he โgoes โto prison, then he can get deported when he’s โคa lot older,” Jones said. “This low-life is lying โขin my jail, getting three meals a day, whining and crying.”
The Sheriff โคannounced plans to pursue additional charges related to the crash and investigate establishments that may have illegally sold alcohol โto Perez-Ventura, as well as individuals who may have provided โขhim โwith vehicles.”I haveโ no sympathy,” Jones added. โ”Ifโฃ heโฃ had been deported andโฃ stayed deported the first time, we wouldn’t be going โฃthrough this.”
jones further stated that nearly half aโฃ dozen undocumented immigrants have been arrested in Butler County recently on charges including sex crimes,assault,DUI,and drug offenses.