2nd judge steps aside in fatal texting case

STRUTHERS

A judge who was set to hear a case involving a woman accused of running over a man out for his morning walk has stepped aside.

Judge Diane Vettori recused herself Thursday from the case of Whitney Yaeger, 20, of Springfield Township.

Yaeger is charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide in the June 17 death of David Muslovski, 55, of Unity Road in Springfield Township.

She told state police she did not see him because she was texting on her cell phone, a police report indicated.

Judge Vettori, who hears cases in Mahoning County Court in Sebring, is the second judge to recuse herself from the case. Struthers Judge James Lanzo also recused himself, saying he has known the Muslovski family for a long time and he is representing Muslovski’s wife in a civil action regarding the death.

The Struthers Clerk of Courts did not know the reason for the recusal. Judge Vettori could not be reached for comment Friday.