'Our family is broken': Man sentenced to prison for 2020 fatal crash in Ravenna

As she held a photograph of her granddaughter Essence Shaw, Linda Lewis spoke about the pain of her loss.

"She was a beautiful little girl," said Lewis. "Her life was taken. It's a shame because she was a loving person. She just wanted to be friends with everybody. It made no difference, she just loved everybody."

Lewis was speaking in Portage County Court of Common Pleas shortly before Judge Becky Doherty sentenced Anthony F. Naylor, 24, of Warren on Monday to 11 to 14.5 years in prison for the September 2020 crash that killed Shaw, 22, of Cleveland, and seriously injured another Cleveland woman.

Lewis spoke about how her granddaughter would bring home stray animals as a child, loved to sing, dance, cook and eat.

"Our family is broken," said Lewis. "I can't even explain. I can't even explain what he has done to our family."

"It's a senseless death," she added. "She didn't deserve it."

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the Cleveland woman was driving westbound in a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt on state Route 5 in Ravenna on Sept. 5, 2020, when an eastbound 2001 Nissan Maxima driven by Naylor went left of center briefly, causing her to take evasive action into the eastbound lane. The Maxima then corrected and swerved back into the eastbound lane and the vehicles collided head on.

Shaw, the passenger in the Cobalt, died at the scene of the crash as a result of injuries sustained, according to the highway patrol.The driver of the Cobalt suffered serious injuries as and was taken by helicopter to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center for treatment.

Prosecutor Sean Scahill said the Cobalt river, who was not in the courtroom, suffered a broken pelvis in three places, lacerations on her liver and spleen, two broken ribs, a broken heel, ankle and toe, underwent multiple surgeries and was in the hospital for a month after the crash.

Naylor also suffered serious injuries and was taken to UH Portage Medical Center for treatment.

A jury found Naylor guilty in November of second- and third-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide, third- and fourth-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault, first-degree misdeemanor operating a vehicle under the influence and minor misdemeanor driving left of center, according to court records. A second OVI charge was dismissed.

Scahill requested a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison, noting that five months after the crash, but before a grand jury indictment was filed in March 2021, Naylor was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence in a separate incident.

"We're asking that this court impose a maximum possible sentence on this defendant for his actions," said Scahill.

He also asked that Doherty suspend Naylor's driver's license for life, which she did.

Naylor declined to speak during the hearing. His attorney, Bret Jordan, said he advised Nayor not to speak because he plans to file an appeal.

"I don't demean the seriousness of this incident. It is a tragedy," said Jordan, adding that Nayor understands that.

Jordan said the OVI charge was in connection with a marijuana metabolite, which he said is an inactive byproduct of THC that is not considered to have any "impairment value." THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.

"There was no evidence he that had active THC in his system at the time, nor was there any evidence that he was over the legal limit with regards to alcohol," said Jordan.

Jordan also said Naylor had moved back into the proper lane before the crash.

"The accident in and of itself was entirely in his lane, not in the other lane," he said.

Doherty said, however, that she found it "so disturbing" that minutes before the crash, the highway patrol had been searching for his vehicle after receiving a report alleging he was driving erratically and that he had another OVI case filed against him after the crash.

"It's really just a blessing that you didn't crash into someone again," said Doherty.

Doherty also said she interpreted statements he made for a pre-sentencing report that he was "blaming the other vehicle" for the crash.

"The fact that she went into your lane," Doherty said. "Honestly, if you had not been driving under the influence, she would never have had any reason to swerve. So in my view, you are still not taking responsibility. You may be sorry to some degree that someone was seriously injured and someone passed away as a result, but I really see nothing but blaming someone else."

According to court records, Naylor was charged with OVI and cited with lanes of travel and a seat belt violation after the highway patrol stopped his vehicle onRoute 5 in Charlestown on Feb. 27, 2021. Scahill said Naylor subsequently pleaded guilty in that case.

His blood alcohol level measured at 0.174%, more than twice the 0.08% legal limit, according to court records.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Man sentenced to prison for Ravenna crash that killed Cleveland woman