Warren Law Department asks for special prosecutor in Howland vehicular-homicide case

Staff report

WARREN

The Warren Law Department has asked that a special prosecutor be appointed for the misdemeanor vehicular-homicide charge against a man charged with killing a Howland pedestrian.

Traci Timko Rose, assistant Warren law director, wrote to Judge Terry Ivanchak of Warren Municipal Court asking that a special prosecutor be appointed because Law Director Greg Hicks has a “close business and personal relationship with the family” of the woman who died.

“Prosecution of this matter by Law Director Greg Hicks and/or his appointed staff would create an appearance of impropriety, and judicial integrity may be jeopardized,” Timko Rose said.

Patrick M. Niess, 20, of Edgewood Street Northeast, was indicted April 9 in the Dec. 8 death of Antoinette Ross, 55, of Sanctuary Trail in Howland.

Niess was scheduled for arraignment Monday in Warren Municipal Court, but proceedings will be delayed until a special prosecutor can be appointed.

Investigators said Niess was driving west on Howland-Wilson Road at 9:52 p.m. Dec. 8 when he apparently fell asleep and drove off of the road and into a ditch.

His vehicle traveled about 450 more feet before coming to a stop after hitting two culverts and a road sign.

Police didn’t realize at the time that Ross, who was walking along the edge of the road, had been hit until the next morning, when passers-by saw her body in the ditch close to where the Niess vehicle entered the ditch.

Police also believe Niess didn’t know he hit Ross.