OTTAWA — A 39-year-old Lima man was sentenced to three months in jail for an impaired driving conviction that resulted in him losing his vehicle in the Ottawa River.
Joseph C. Skiba was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in the Putnam County Jail for an amended charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence by Putnam County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Schierloh. The judge suspended 90 days of the sentence and gave him credit for five days served. He was fined $1,000 with $625 suspended upon successful completion of probation and court costs. His license was suspended for two years as of Nov. 15, 2021 and he was placed on five years of community control. He was given driving privileges to work, counseling and the probation department. Skiba was ordered to report to the jail at 8 a.m. today.
According to reports from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a call was received June 27, 2021 about a suspicious person around Road U and Road 17-S in Sugar Creek Township in Putnam County. Units arrived and found Skiba standing in the roadway. He told deputies he drove his vehicle into the river but was not sure exactly where it was located. Deputies located the vehicle off the end of Road U, west of Road 17-S in the middle of the Ottawa River. Sheriff department units were unable to reach the vehicle and requested the Kalida Fire Department for assistance. Skiba was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Skiba apologized to the judge for his actions.
“I’m sorry for my actions,” Skiba said. “I’ve not had any more trouble.”
Judge Schierloh noted Skiba had had years of chemical abuse. According to the investigation, Skiba was reportedly upset that day with concerns about his daughter.
“So you got several Bud Lights and drove around. I don’t know how that would help your daughter anyway,” Judge Schierloh said.
Skiba has had driving and drinking charges going back to 2001 with several probation violations. Considering Skiba’s history, the court had to conclude this was not just an unfortunate OVI, the judge said.
“Those things happen. You continue to repeat the same actions,” Judge Schierloh said.
