Howland man extradited to Texas to face manslaughter charge

Staff report

WARREN

William P. Mitchell, 57, of Hoffman Circle in Howland has waived extradition to Montgomery County, Texas, to face a charge of intoxication manslaughter in the death of his wife, Connie, last year.

Mitchell appeared Monday before Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court after Howland police arrested him Thursday on a warrant.

According to an affidavit filed with the warrant for Mitchell’s arrest, he was charged as a result of an Aug. 23, 2012, traffic accident in Montgomery County in which their car crashed into a tree.

At first, William Mitchell denied being the driver but later admitted he was.

Mitchell, who was born in Warren but was married to Connie Mitchell in Houston in 1990, “veered off the road at a high rate of speed for no apparent reason,” the affidavit said.

Officers who responded to the scene said Mitchell appeared to have slow reflexes, slurred speech, droopy eyes and an all-around slow and lethargic appearance.

Tests of William Mitchell’s blood later determined that he had Soma, Lorazepam, Meprobamate and marijuana metabolite in his system in high enough quantities to cause impairment of his driving, the affidavit said.

Soma is a muscle relaxer and pain blocker, Lorazepam and Meprobamate are anxiety medications, and marijuana metabolite is an indication of the presence of marijuana in the body.

A witness in a car behind Mitchell reported seeing the vehicle “weaving all over the road for no apparent reason, almost have several head-on crashes for no apparent reason, and then leave the roadway driving into a tree for no apparent reason,” the affidavit said.

The witness was on the phone with 911 at the time of the crash, he said.

If convicted of the charges, Mitchell could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison.