An Amherst man charged in connection with an alleged OVI-related crash that seriously injured a pedestrian and killed her dog appeared Friday in Oberlin Municipal Court, where the case was bound over to the Lorain County grand jury.
Court records show Sean Bankston, 34, waived his right to a preliminary hearing during the Dec. 26 proceeding. As a result, the municipal court transferred jurisdiction of the felony case to the county level for further review and potential indictment.
The charges stem from a Dec. 20 incident near the intersection of Rome Beauty Drive and North Quarry Road in Amherst. According to court filings, a vehicle struck a 65-year-old woman, identified in public reports as Jessica Paige, who was walking along the roadway with her dog, Ishe. Paige sustained serious injuries and was transported for medical treatment. The dog died at the scene.
Bankston faces multiple charges, including operating a vehicle under the influence, refusal to submit to a chemical test, aggravated vehicular assault and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. One of the OVI charges is listed as a second offense within 10 years, according to court records.
Because the case involves felony-level allegations, it was initially handled in municipal court before being transferred to the county.
During Friday’s hearing, the court left Bankston’s bond in place at $250,000. No testimony was taken, and no trial date was set, as the case now proceeds to the grand jury phase.
The case has drawn significant public attention locally, including strong reactions from animal welfare advocates and residents following the death of Paige’s dog. Courtroom attendance and online discussion reflected heightened community concern in the days leading up to Friday’s hearing.
The grand jury will determine whether formal felony indictments will be issued, which would move the case into Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
The case remains pending.