VIENNA TWP., Ohio - A Trumbull County judge has entered a written "not guilty" plea to three charges, including a felony, after a rollover crash in Vienna Township.

According to the criminal complaint, 69-year-old Ronald J. Rice was involved in a rollover crash Friday, July 18, at 6:52 p.m. along Scoville North near Niles Vienna Road.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Rice was driving a 2025 Mini Cooper when he went off the roadway and hit two traffic signs before overturning into a ditch.

The traffic complaint said Rice refused OVI testing at the scene.

A criminal complaint connected to the crash said Rice had a loaded handgun in the car at the time of the incident.

Court records show three charges in total, a felony count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and misdemeanor counts of DUI and failure to control a vehicle.

Rice had an arraignment hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. but entered a written plea of not guilty Monday.

According to Judge Rice's bio from the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court website, he was elected to the court in 2012.

In Ohio, possessing a handgun while under the influence is classified as a fifth-degree felony, which carries a potential sentence of up to one year.

According to the American Bar Association, almost all cases in which a judge is charged with a felony will result in a suspension. However, it remains uncertain whether the felony charge against Judge Rice will lead to his removal from the bench.
 
According to Rule III of Section 6 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio "A justice or judge is disqualified from acting as a justice or judge while there is pending an indictment or an information charging the Justice or judge with a crime punishable as a felony under state or federal law."