A man whose speeding SUV ran a red light in South Toledo last May, killing a 22-year-old woman, was sentenced to prison Thursday.
Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Lori Olender rejected a request for probation for Desmond Dohbit, 33, pointing to a later ticket on I-475 in West Toledo—89 mph in a 60 zone near Secor Road—as proof the fatal crash had not changed his driving behavior.
The judge also cited a 2024 speeding ticket in Maumee, calling the violations a pattern showing disregard for the potentially deadly consequences of reckless driving.
Dohbit, a Maumee resident seeking asylum from Cameroon, pleaded guilty Nov. 20 to third-degree aggravated vehicular homicide and fourth-degree aggravated vehicular assault stemming from the May 29 crash.
Prosecutors said he was driving about 74.5 mph on northbound Anthony Wayne Trail when he struck a car traveling west on Sherwood Avenue on a green light. The impact ejected both occupants; Laurie Greene died 13 days later. The driver, Simon Keough, 22, of Liberty Center, was injured. Dohbit was also seriously hurt.
Olender sentenced Dohbit to two years on the homicide charge and a concurrent 12 months on the assault charge, suspended his driver’s license for five years, and credited him with four days served.
A family representative, Susan Gilbert, told the court the loss had “destroyed our family.”
Defense attorney Richard Mitchell argued Dohbit was exhausted after a 12-hour shift and a round trip to Columbus to help family, calling the crash an “isolated but horrible incident.” Dohbit said in a statement he has not found peace since that day.