Did Ackley understand his rights?
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
The attorney for a London man held responsible for a truck-motorcycle crash that killed a West Jefferson couple last spring was in court Monday, attempting to throw out statements his client made to troopers after the accident.
Timothy S. Ackley, 32, 1090 Oxley Drive, is charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, stemming from an April crash on state Route 142 in which Mark and Jo Ann Williams were killed. Ackley was allegedly driving drunk when his pick-up veered across the center line and into the path of the Williams’ motorcycle near the Gregg Road intersection.
Timothy Ackley
Joe Edwards, Ackley’s court-appointed attorney, filed a motion in July asking Madison County Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Nichols to suppress comments Ackley made to troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol following the accident and during a subsequent ride to Tri-County Regional Jail.
Assistant county prosecutor Eamon Costello said those statements, which were racially charged and unsympathetic to the victims, are important because they showed the extent of Ackley’s drunkenness.
Edwards did not deny his client made the statements, but argued Ackley didn’t fully understand or knowingly waive his right against self-incrimination before he uttered the inflammatory words. Edwards also argued Ackley made off-hand incriminating comments about the accident to Trooper Shane Meddock with no defense lawyer present.
Meddock was Costello’s only witness on Monday.
The trooper testified that he arrived at the chaotic accident scene just after 3 p.m. on April 7 and found the Williamses dead beneath Ackley’s truck, while a belligerent Ackley sat in the rear of a squad unit.
When Ackley refused treatment for a slight head injury, Meddock transferred the man to the cruiser of patrol Sgt. Todd Scales. A video recording from Scales’ cruiser showed Meddock reading a “Miranda” warning to Ackley. However, Meddock acknowledged on Monday that he wasn’t sure Ackley understood the warning. Trooper Brian Satchell told Meddock further warnings were unnecessary.
Ackley refused to sign a formal waiver of his rights, but did agree to undergo a field sobriety test. He subsequently failed that test.
Meddock also testified Ackley recounted grim and graphic details about his actions in the moments following the crash. Those details included shaking the lifeless body of Mark Williams to determine the man’s condition, as well as taking note of Jo Ann Williams’ breast size as her body lay under the truck.
At the patrol’s West Jefferson Post, Ackley continued confrontational behavior and refused to provide a urine sample for analysis. He alleged membership in the Ku Klux Klan and told Scales, who is African-American, that he would dispatch other KKK members to “take care of business.”
Throughout, Ackley insisted he was not at fault for the wreck and that the Williams motorcycle veered into his lane, causing the double fatality, Meddock said.
Nichols is expected to rule within two weeks on Edwards’ motion to suppress Ackley’s statements.
What kind of world do we live in…..where this WASTE has the chance to continue…on and on….and theres someone that is actually trying to keep these morbid statements he made quiet….SHAME ON YOU!!!!!! Mark and Jo were two of the best people you could ever want to know…..WHAT ARE THEIR RIGHTS???!!!??? What’s even worse is the fact that they would be the first of all of us to forgive this scumbag….our families are going through hell right now…WHAT ARE OUR RIGHTS??? Quit wasting time and taxpayer dollars on this P.O.S…..what purpose could he ever serve??? He understood his rights….he’s just not man enough to face the music!!!
Of course he understood his rights. he is definitely not new to the system. He knows the system very well. He is just trying to get away with this. I think the drinking and driving laws definitely need to be evaluated in the state of Ohio. if this would have been in a few other states in this count he would be looking at a life sentences for each count not 8 years for each count. at least family will still get to see him hug him feel his skin tell him that they love him. Joann and Mark’s families will never get to do any of those things ever again in this lifetime. I juust don’t want anyone else to have to go through what are families are going through right now. and I am really getting tired of drinking and driving taking my family members from me. I lost my dad to a drinking and driving accident when I was 6 months old. 7 people were involved in that accident and 6 of them died the only person that survived that accident was a gentleman by the name of Jim Kennedy who was on the back of the bike with my dad. my dad had just got back from viet Nam he was sent home on a 15 day leave he was here 3 days out of his 15 day leave and was killed on his third day back. And now my sister and brother in law. I think that the state of ohio needs to evaluate their drinking and driving laws. if this would have been in a few other states in this country he would be facing a life sentence for each count Not 8 years for each count. well I better stop talking I do not want to invade any of Ackley’s rights. please feel free to comment on my post. May God bless all of the families and love ones who are involved.
has been convicted of a dui. i am 33. i knew my rights and i was drunk .175. man up and take your medicine. you killed two people becasue you made a poor choice. its a shame you are a pos and think its ok to make rude comments. enjoy hell
This is one stupid guy. He understood everything that was said to him. Now he wants a way out. Justice will be served. you can take a life and expect to walk free. He made the decision to drive drunk. He shall pay for the life of 2 people he had taken. People like should be put away for life!
what wrong with you ackley you took 2 lives my aunt and uncle and still show no remorse for your action
They will smack his hands and set him free. wait and see
This was my father and step mom he will not get a slap on anything, he has been charged w several things his past record is enough to send him off for life. And he deserves every second he endures there i n prison where he belongs!~
I hope they lock Ackley up and never let him go!
Mark and Joanne never had a chance because of this idiot. He had no regard for their lives. I pray he gets the maximum sentence, which in my opinion is not long enough. WE ARE MAD!!!!!!!