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LISBON -- A man whose original conviction for a 2023 crash was thrown out in July entered a guilty plea Monday to vehicular assault and driving impaired, then received credit for 259 days served and a three-year license suspension retroactive to Nov. 7, 2025.
Christopher C. Mele, 66, Lucretia Lane, Columbiana, appeared with his defense attorney David Betras before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton.
"From the bottom of my heart, I'd like to apologize," he said, especially for all the pain he caused.
The case stemmed from a traffic crash on Aug. 12, 2023 when Mele's eastbound Buick Envision crossed the center lane on state Route 14 and struck a westbound vehicle driven by Matthew Murphy. Murphy's passenger, Samantha Harris, suffered serious physical harm as a result, according to the indictment.
Last fall, Mele entered pleas of no contest and stipulated to being found guilty of third-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault, fourth-degree felony vehicular assault and misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them. Another OVI charge was dismissed.
He was then sentenced to a total of 30 months in prison in November 2025, but appealed the denial of his motion to suppress blood evidence. The Seventh District Court of Appeals agreed with the argument that his blood sample wasn't refrigerated properly and remanded the case back to the trial court. A new trial date had been set for Oct. 13, but the two sides came to an agreement instead, leading to the plea.
Mele pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony vehicular assault and misdemeanor OVI. As part of the deal, there's no probation, just credit for time served. Betras indicated that he plans to file a motion for driving privileges at a later date related to the license suspension.
County Assistant Prosecutor Alec Beech explained the two sides came to an agreement with the recommended sentence stipulated and agreed upon. Beech indicated this wasn't the desired outcome for the family of the victim, but they're ready for it to be over.
"I think it's a fair resolution based on all the evidence," Betras said, adding his client wants to put this behind him.
Bickerton said "this is a difficult case for everyone involved."
She said it changed the life of the victim forever and told the defendant "I believe it's also changed your life."
The outcome could have been a lot worse than it was.
"Thank goodness everyone survived," she said.
Harris and Murphy filed a personal injury lawsuit against Mele in September 2023 over the crash, which was later dismissed by their counsel.