YOUNGSTOWN A Struthers man is asking a judge for leniency when he is sentenced Tuesday for a drunk driving crash that claimed the lives of a New Middletown woman and her teenage son and left a third person with serious injuries.

Sixty-five-year-old Walter Bolt pleaded guilty in July to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, and one count of operating a vehicle under the influence.

Bolt, who turns 66 in December, pleaded guilty on July 16, accepting responsibility for the March 3, 2025, crash on State Route 170 in Springfield Township.

Authorities say Bolt's pickup truck crossed the center line, striking a Honda Accord. The crash killed Angela Brown, 44, and her son, Jason Daff, 15. Brown's other son, age 12, was seriously injured.

According to police reports, Bolt's blood alcohol content was .215, more than twice the legal limit of .08. Police also found open alcohol containers in his vehicle.

The sentencing ranges for Bolt's convictions are outlined in Ohio law. For the two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, the mandatory prison sentence is 2 to 3 years, with a possible range of up to 8 to 12 years. The aggravated vehicular assault count carries a mandatory sentence of 1 to 5 years.

For the OVI, the mandatory jail time is 3 days, up to 180 days. Bolt is not eligible for probation and faces a mandatory supervised release of 18 months to three years. He also faces a mandatory lifetime driver's license suspension.

The prosecution is recommending a sentence of 19 to 23 years in prison.

In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court, Bolt's defense attorney, Rhys Cartwright-Jones, is asking Judge Krichbaum to impose a concurrent sentence toward the lower end of the statutory range. The document argues that Bolt, a first-time offender with a long law-abiding life, has shown genuine remorse.

"Mr. Bolt admits he drank but did not get behind the wheel expecting to hurt anyone," the memorandum states. It notes that since the crash, Bolt's life has been marked by grief, deteriorating health, and an unyielding sense of responsibility.

Bolt, who uses a wheelchair and wears a back brace, sustained serious, likely permanent, injuries in the crash. The memo highlights his honorable military service in the Army and Air Force Reserves and his lack of a prior criminal record.

The defense maintains that Bolt's health and age, combined with his lack of intent to harm, are mitigating factors. The memo suggests a "singular lapse in judgment" occurred, possibly due to a "dangerous synergy with the alcohol" and a previously unrecognized medical condition.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.