An Ohio sheriff has launched a scathing public attack on neighbouring police departments after an undocumented migrant, previously arrested for drunk driving, was involved in a horrific head-on collision that left a local nurse with life-altering injuries.
Sheriff's Outrage Over Prior Arrests
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones posted a furious social media tirade, slamming other agencies for what he described as failures to detain Johen Perez-Ventura, 27, from Guatemala. The sheriff revealed that Perez-Ventura had been arrested on similar charges four times before the November 20 crash.
Jones passionately described Perez-Ventura's record, calling him a 'piece of s***t,' and vowed to ensure the man would experience 'a little taste of American prison.' He declared the system 'broken' and expressed his disgust over the incident.
The Horror Crash and Its Aftermath
The collision occurred in the early hours of November 20 when Perez-Ventura allegedly swerved over the centre lane while driving, hitting an oncoming car head-on. The other driver was Courtney Steinmetz, 28, a registered nurse and volunteer cheerleading coach.
When deputies arrived at the crash site, they reported finding an open container of alcohol inside Perez-Ventura's vehicle. Authorities confirmed he was in the country illegally and was driving without a valid licence.
Sheriff Jones visited Steinmetz in hospital, where she is suffering from multiple serious injuries. A GoFundMe page set up for her recovery states she sustained a fractured sternum, a broken right wrist, and a shattered vertebra.
A loose bone penetrated her spinal column, leaving her unstable for 24 hours and requiring neurosurgery. She had pins and rods placed in her back to stabilise her and couldn't move for a day before the operation.
A Pattern of Offences and Immigration Status
According to the Butler County Sheriff's Office, Perez-Ventura was apprehended at the southern border in Texas in 2019 by ICE and deported to Guatemala. He later returned to the US and was arrested on assault charges in Cincinnati in 2023.
Later that same year, he was arrested for driving under the influence in West Chester County but was released. Sheriff Jones specifically blamed the West Chester Police Department for this decision, stating he hopes the police chief is sued.
Jones also noted that Perez-Ventura had received two other citations for driving under the influence in 2024 in Hamilton County. The Butler County Sheriff's Office is investigating how Perez-Ventura obtained a fake driver's licence and whose car he was driving during the crash.
Perez-Ventura has now been charged with aggravated vehicular assault, driving without a licence, and obstruction of justice. He appeared in court on Monday, where he claimed he wasn't driving the vehicle but was merely moving it. He has not yet entered a plea for the charges against him.
Sheriff Jones issued a final message urging support for Steinmetz: 'Keep in mind - Courtney needs our help with the GoFundMe page. Let's show her some love. And I'm gonna take care of this Johen guy.'
