Ohio Sheriff Criticizes Agencies After Alleged DUI Crash Critically Injures Nurse; Suspect Had Prior Arrests

An Ohio sheriff has sharply criticized other law enforcement agencies for repeatedly releasing a man who is now accused of causing a serious head-on crash while allegedly driving under the influence. Authorities say 27-year-old Johen Perez-Ventura, a Guatemalan national living in the U.S. without legal status, faces charges of aggravated vehicular assault, driving without a license and obstruction of justice after the Nov. 20 collision in Liberty Township.

The victim, Courtney Steinmetz, a registered nurse and volunteer cheerleading coach, was driving on Route 747 when deputies say Perez-Ventura struck her vehicle head-on. Steinmetz sustained a spine injury, a broken wrist and a broken ankle; officials say she will likely be out of work for an extended period and could face long-term effects from the spinal injury.

Sheriff Richard Jones said Perez-Ventura was first taken into custody after crossing the Texas border in 2019 and was deported to Guatemala. Jones said the suspect later returned to the U.S. and faced multiple arrests in 2023 and 2024, including assault and several DUI-related charges. According to the sheriff, Perez-Ventura was released after those earlier arrests instead of being transferred to the county jail, a decision Jones called 'appalling' and that he believes allowed the suspect to remain in the community.

Sheriff Jones said he is frustrated that Perez-Ventura 'had already been incarcerated at that point for DUI, assault, and he'd come across the border twice' and suggested earlier encounters may have involved false identification. He added that, after the latest arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was involved in making the apprehension.

After the crash, Perez-Ventura — using an interpreter — denied being the driver and said he was on probation for a prior offense. Sheriff Jones visited Steinmetz in the hospital and described her condition as severe, noting that she is 27 and was 'living her dream' as a nurse before the crash.

A crowdfunding page has been created to help cover Steinmetz's medical bills, lost wages and insurance deductibles; authorities say the suspected driver did not have insurance. Jones said he will pursue additional charges connected to the crash and will investigate the establishments that supplied alcohol, the people who were drinking with the suspect and anyone who sold or loaned him vehicles.

Jones also noted a recent pattern of arrests in Butler County involving undocumented immigrants on charges ranging from DUI and assault to drug offenses and sex crimes. The sheriff emphasized he has little sympathy for repeat offenders and said he intends to seek stronger accountability through the courts.