Newark Man Sentenced

A Newark man is sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing the death of a Pataskala man while fleeing police.

51-year old Randy Ratliff was sentenced Wednesday morning in Licking County Common Pleas Court. Licking County Prosecutor Kenneth Oswalt says Ratliff pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, felony fleeing from police, and felony driving under the influence. Oswalt says Ratliff faces 18 years in prison which will be served consecutively with the two years he is currently serving for a prior driving under the influence offense.

On January 25, Ratliff was stopped by Hebron police for a non-working taillight. Police say he got out of his pick-up truck, then jumped back in and sped away. He proceeded to run a red light at the intersection of State Route 79 and Enterprise Drive where he crashed into a vehicle driven by 48-year-old Jeffrey Robinson. Robinson died from injuries sustained in the crash. Oswalt says Ratliff was not immediately charged because he was not mobile due to the injuries he endured in the crash.