Thursday, January 13, 2000
Van driver guilty in crash that killed 2
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — A Hanover Township man on Wednesday was convicted of eight charges, including four felonies, stemming from a Sept. 7 car crash that killed a Ross High School cheerleader and her grandfather.
Joseph Hoops, 36, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of driving under the influence and one count each of driving under suspension and reckless operation.
He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Butler County Common Pleas Judge Patricia Oney will sentence him Feb. 14.
Police said Mr. Hoops' blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit and he was driving too fast on U.S. 27 in Ross Township when his van crossed the median and crashed into a Cadillac driven by Robert Sandlin, 70. Mr. Sandlin had just picked up his granddaughter, Missy Boling, 16, at school and the two were going out to dinner.
The accident killed Mr. Sandlin and Ms. Boling and sent Mr. Hoops to the hospital for three days.
Mr. Hoops, a roofer, appeared pale and shaken Wednesday as he stood before Judge Oney to plead no contest to the charges.
About a dozen members from the Boling and Sandlin families wept quietly in the courtroom. After the hearing they hugged and cried.
“Mr. Hoops has affected an awful lot of lives,” said Bill Sandlin, Robert's brother. “We're going to get through it. We pray for him and his family every day.”
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Van driver guilty in crash that killed 2
