Reinhart returned to prison after violation

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A man who killed a young couple in a traffic accident nine years ago is headed back to prison after he violated his probation for the second time in two years.

Luke Reinhart, 35, of Van Wert, who admitted to violating his probation by failing to report to his probation officer for more than a year, and by failing a drug test in July 2013, was sent back to prison by Judge Charles D. Steele during a hearing held Thursday. The judge sentenced him to serve the remainder of the two consecutive four-year prison terms he was given originally, but also gave him credit for 2,047 days already served, leaving him yet to serve nearly 2½ years.

This is the second time Reinhart has violated his probation since his early release from prison in November 2011. In December 2012, he admitted to violating his lifetime driving ban and was resentenced to community control, along with an added six-month jail sentence.

Reinhart was originally sentenced to a 10-year prison term in 2007 for killing Kristian and Jade Amweg in an accident that occurred September 3, 2005. Reinhart, who had been drinking that night, ran a stop sign at the intersection of Wren-Landeck and Dull Robinson roads and hit the Amweg’s small subcompact vehicle with his GMC Jimmy sports utility vehicle.

That sentence was overturned on appeal by the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals because of sentencing errors and a new trial was scheduled in the case. However, Reinhart decided to plead to the charges before a trial could be held. Judge Steele then sentenced him to two consecutive four-year prison terms, a total of eight years, although a plea agreement that received the approval of the Amwegs’ family members, stipulated that Reinhart could be released early from prison after he had served at least five years.

Also Thursday, Kari Hatfield, 24, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her probation handed down on charges of burglary and possession of drugs by failing to report to probation and by violating her electronically monitored house arrest by being out of range of the device without permission.

Judge Steele continued her case for sentencing at 9 a.m. Tuesday, December 2.