A 43-year-old Toledo man faces accusations that he took his daughter’s vehicle without her permission and crashed it into a ditch before leaving the scene.
Aaron M. Nara was booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 8:44 a.m. Nov. 23 and charged with one count of second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission. The Class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office imposed additional charges of first-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license, violation of ignition interlock and hit-and-run.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, on Nov. 23, a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy learned that a vehicle had been left in a ditch along Jackson Highway.
The deputy located the vehicle and contacted its registered owner, who allegedly told the deputy that her father had taken the vehicle during the night without her permission.
Her father’s name was Aaron Nara.
The sheriff’s office checked Nara’s name and discovered his driver’s license was revoked. On top of that, Nara was required to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed. An IID uses a breathalyzer connected to a vehicle’s ignition system to prevent the vehicle from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol content is above the legal limit.
Investigators examined the scene of the accident. They found the vehicle had “left the roadway, struck a mailbox and became high-centered in the ditch,” according to the affidavit.
The deputy spoke with Nara. Nara allegedly appeared inebriated.
“When asked about the incident, (Nara) claimed not to remember what occurred,” the affidavit stated.
During Nara’s preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Monday, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher acknowledged that Nara had no adult felony convictions.
According to the affidavit, Nara has juvenile felony convictions for theft and vehicle prowling, along with previous misdemeanor convictions for driving with a suspended license, DUI, assault and disorderly conduct.
Meagher added that Nara also had 13 prior warrants issued but said they were fairly dated.
The prosecutor requested bail of $5,000 cash or bond, along with conditions of release to include no contact with the alleged victim.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for $5,000 but unsecured, emphasizing the defendant’s dated criminal history. She added that Nara was employed and resided locally and said he could abide by the standard conditions of release, which included no drug or alcohol consumption.
On the issue of no contact, Tiller noted that, while Nara and his daughter didn’t reside under the same roof, they did reside on the same property but said the property covered 20 acres.
Judge Paul Strophy set bail at $5,000 cash or bond, citing the allegations that Nara took the vehicle — despite being prohibited from driving — before engaging in an alleged hit-and-run.
Strophy added there was some evidence of risk to community safety. The judge agreed to prohibit the defendant from contacting the alleged victim, but said he wouldn’t prohibit Nara from the property so long as he didn’t contact her.
An arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 26. Nara will look to retain private counsel.
