Ooley denied judicial diversion

The husband of a woman who shot two people on horseback New Year’s Eve will not be allowed a judicial diversion as the court found the ‘wild west’ mentality which led to the violent showdown cannot be excused as a simple error in judgment. The defendant, Jeff Ooley, 43, is serving one year of a four-year sentence in jail after entering a guilty plea earlier this year to the reduced charge of facilitation of attempted second-degree murder. His wife, Pamela Ooley, 46, is charged with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault and is free on a $500,000 bond awaiting her Sept. 17 trial. The Ooleys were arrested on New Years after Mrs. Ooley allegedly wounded two people who were riding on horseback on Airport Lake Road, shooting Brent Newby, 27, in the stomach and Ashlei Edwards, 19, in the arm. The victims were treated at Erlanger Hospital and have incurred large medical bills. While Mrs. Ooley faces eight to 12 years on the attempted second-degree murder charges alone, her husband opted to take a plea agreement with the understanding he could at least request a judicial diversion to avoid being labeled as a convicted felon for the rest of his life. A judicial diversion, in this case, would not have relieved him of the jail time he is serving, but instead would have allowed him to have his record erased once he finished his probationary period in four years. Any person with a clean prior record can request a judicial diversion and the request must be considered by the court. In the case of Mr. Ooley, Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley said his participation in helping his wife search for ‘ and confront ‘ the victims went too far. ‘The court finds it particularly disturbing the fact that Mr. Ooley and his wife engaged in behavior that was likely to place persons in great physical danger,’ said Judge Stanley in rejecting the judicial diversion request. ‘Mr. Ooley and his spouse consumed alcohol and/or drugs and then chose to arm themselves before going on a search for the victim and his friends.’ Judge Stanley pointed out this armed search by the Ooleys happened immediately after a heated cellphone argument between Mrs. Ooley and someone in the horse riding party. ‘It should have been obvious to anyone that serious injury or death might occur if and when they found the victim and his friends,’ Judge Stanley said. The court also noted there have been several cases involving guns and alcohol in Warren County in recent years, noting drunk persons toting guns are something that needs to be curtailed and that by excusing Ooley’s conduct, the wrong message would be sent. ‘The wild west mentality of violent retribution when no present danger exists must not be excused as a slight error in judgment,’ said Judge Stanley, denying Ooley’s request for judicial diversion.