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Cortland man’s bond $215,000 in hit-and-run death of jogger
By Ed Runyan
CORTLAND
Russell G. Lauer III kept his head down through most of his hearing Wednesday as his attorney entered not-guilty pleas to aggravated vehicular homicide and other offenses in the hit-and-run death of a young woman jogging on Ridge Road.
Brittany Szwedko, 27, of Cortland died Tuesday after being struck as she jogged Saturday afternoon. Witnesses followed the car that hit her until catching up to Lauer at Ridge Road and Bradley Brownlee Road, where he was taken into custody by Fowler Township police.
The witnesses said Szwedko, a public-relations employee of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, was off the road when she was struck, and Lauer’s car was “swerving and leaving the roadway” before it struck her.
Lauer, 43, of state Route 5, also is charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident, drunken driving and a driving-lanes violation. He returns to court at 9 a.m. Monday for his next hearing.
Judge Thomas Campbell of Central District Court set bond at $200,000 for the charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, $10,000 for the charge of leaving the scene and $5,000 for the DUI charge.
His attorney, Roger Bauer, sought a $30,000 bond, but Judge Campbell chose $215,000 and ordered that Lauer be confined to his home with electronic monitoring if he is able to make bond.
He also would be prohibited from driving a motor vehicle, Judge Campell said.
Mike Burnett, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, sought bond of $300,000, telling Judge Campbell that Lauer has two previous drunken-driving convictions, one of them in 2015. He also has a previous charge of wreckless operation, seven prior driving suspensions, two previous traffic crashes “and has shown his willingness to flee the scene,” Burnett said.
If convicted, Lauer could get more than 11 years in prison, Burnett said, adding that he views Lauer to be a flight risk because of his “egregious conduct.” He said Lauer poses a danger to the public.
Bauer said there have not been any test results provided yet showing that Lauer was drunk.
“There was an accident, and there are some unfortunate consequences from that accident, but I don’t think $300,000 bond is reasonable under the circumstances,” Bauer said.
Lauer was participating in the hearing by video from the Trumbull County jail.
Miriam Fife, former Trumbull County victim-witness advocate, attended the hearing, despite retiring from the job a year ago.
She knew Szwedko briefly because the Lakeview High School graduate lived in her neighborhood and walked her three dogs quite often.
“She seemed like a real nice girl. I didn’t know her, but I’m sad it happened to her and her family,” she said, describing Szwedko as “very bubbly.”
James Wilkins, director of the library, issued a statement Tuesday after learning Szwedko had died.
“We are devastated by the loss of our co-worker and friend Brittany Szwedko,” Wilkins said. “Brittany was part of our library for nearly 10 years, as a specialist with the Cortland Branch and then as an associate in the Public Relations Department.
“Brittany was a caring, compassionate person. She was professional and extremely competent as a library employee. Her sunny disposition and cheerful demeanor will be missed by each one of us as we mourn her loss, Our thoughts are with Brittany’s family.”