ASHLAND — A 40-year-old Mansfield man was recently sentenced to six years in prison related to the Feb. 19 death of a 26-year-old man in Ashland County.
Joseph Doering was sentenced Oct. 5 in Ashland County Common Pleas Court and received consecutive prison sentences of 36, 24 and 12 months. Doering’s charges included reckless homicide, tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs.
He received 229 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Doering will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated Feb. 20.
Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell announced that charges had been filed against the 40-year-old in Ashland County Common Pleas Court following the death of Brandon N. Sheaffer, of Mifflin.
The charges stated that Doering “recklessly caused the death of Sheaffer during an incident in which the parties were allegedly engaged in methamphetamine use and other high-risk behavior.”
According to the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, local emergency services were dispatched to 39 Maine St. at 5:04 p.m. on Feb. 19 in reference to an unresponsive person.
First responders arrived on the scene and located Sheaffer, who was lying unconscious and unresponsive inside the residence. Life-saving measures were initiated, but Sheaffer did not survive.
Detectives reportedly discovered methamphetamine and additional evidence inside the 39 Maine St. residence during the investigation.
During Doering’s bond hearing in February, Ashland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf said the 40-year-old was engaged in methamphetamine use, as well as other risky behavior with the victim.
“Ultimately, we believe the defendant’s behavior contributed to and/or caused the death of the victim in this matter,” Metcalf said in February.
PREVIOUS REPORTING ON MIFFLIN TWP. DEATH
Other Richland County defendants sentenced in October
Common Pleas Court Judge David Stimpert ordered the following sentences, unless otherwise noted. The following names stem from a report generated by Stimpert.
Oct. 15
- Jennifer Reeder, 46, of Mansfield, was sentenced to six months in prison for a conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. Reeder received 35 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Reeder will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated May 20, 2024.
Oct. 26
- Curtis Vasquez, 49, of Mansfield, received two 18-month prison sentences and two 180-day jail sentences, to be served concurrently, to go with an additional 654 days (to be served consecutively) for termination of current post-release control, for convictions of amended charges of attempted retaliation and attempted tampering with evidence, as well as single counts of assault and aggravated menacing. One count of retaliation was dismissed. Vasquez received 185 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Vasquez will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated April 27.
