Lawyer tries to block evidence in OVI fatality case

Police say Franklin man's blood alcohol level was 0.13 when he struck, killed Hamilton man in Monroe.

Curtis Ward of Franklin appeared Thursday, July 29, for a pretrial hearing in Butler County Common Pleas Judge Andrew Nastoff's courtroom. He is charged with aggravated vehicular manslaughter in the June 19 death of Stacy Moermond of Hamilton, who was struck while standing behind his disabled vehicle along Ohio 63 in Monroe.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Curtis Ward of Franklin appeared Thursday, July 29, for a pretrial hearing in Butler County Common Pleas Judge Andrew Nastoff's courtroom. He is charged with aggravated vehicular manslaughter in the June 19 death of Stacy Moermond of Hamilton, who was struck while standing behind his disabled vehicle along Ohio 63 in Monroe.

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By Kelsey Cano, Staff Writer Updated 1:32 AM Friday, July 30, 2010

HAMILTON — The attorney for a Franklin man charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of a Hamilton man is trying to block blood-alcohol tests from his upcoming trial.

Curtis Ward, 38, 7864 Marcia Drive, is accused of striking and killing Stacy Moermond, 23, of Hamilton, on June 19 as Meormond was standing behind his broken down vehicle along Ohio 63 in Monroe.

Ward’s defense attorney, Paris Ellis, filed a motion Thursday, July 29, to suppress urine and breath evidence. Butler County Common Pleas Judge Andrew Nastoff scheduled a suppression hearing for Sept. 10; Ward is slated to go on trial beginning Oct. 25.

Ward allegedly told police he was headed home from a bar when he veered off the right side of Ohio 63 and struck Moermond, who was behind his disabled Jeep Wrangler. Police reported Ward’s blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was 0.13, which is above the state’s 0.08 legal driving limit.

Moermond was flown by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where he later was pronounced dead, police said.

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