The sentencing of a Marion man who pleaded guilty in May to aggravated vehicular homicide — in connection with a crash that killed his wife — has been delayed.
Richard Charles Stephens Jr., 36, was scheduled to be sentenced Monday afternoon in Delaware County Common Pleas Court on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony; and improper handling of a firearm, a fifth-degree felony. However, prosecutors filed a motion Friday, asking that the hearing to be continued so that Stephens can testify against another Marion man involved in the crash, Andrew Miller, 30, who is scheduled to go on trial on Oct. 6.
Miller faces a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony.
Judge Everett Krueger approved the motion but has not set a new sentencing date for Stephens. Prosecutors asked that the sentencing for Stephens be decided after Miller’s trial.
Prosecutors say there was “bad blood” between Stephens and Miller when they saw each other on Nov. 1, 2014, on Interstate 71 and proceeded to drive recklessly and dangerous, eventually resulting in a crash on U.S. 36/State Route 37 in Delaware County.
Stephens’ wife, Brenda Stephens, a passenger in his vehicle, was killed in the crash.
