Press Release
November22, 2022
State v. Stanley Gardner
Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell announced that the Ashland Grand Jury meeting for the month of November, 2022 issued an indictment against Stanley Gardner charging him with one count of aggravated murder with a 3-year firearm specification.
A complaint charging Gardner with a count of murder had previously been filed in the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas on September 9, 2022 by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. Tunnell explained “The difference between murder and aggravated murder,in this instance, is that murder alleges the purposeful killing of another. Aggravated murder is the purposeful killing of another with prior calculation and design.” According to Prosecutor Tunnell“ The allegation against Mr. Gardner is that he planned to kill his son Jason, with whom he resided in a residence near Brookside WestPark, just outside the city limits of Ashland, and that he carried out that plan by use of a firearm.”The penalties for aggravated murder are set by statute and are; life sentence with the possibility of parole at 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, or life without parole at the option of the Court.
The case has been assigned to a visiting judge since one of the principal detectives investigating the case is Deputy Andrew Forsthoefel of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Forsthoefel is Judge Ronald Forsthoefel’s son. According to Tunnell, such a conflict of interest requires the judge to recuse himself, and in Ashland County it is a very standard process. The case will be scheduled for trial at the next Court appearance which is November 28, 2022 at 1pm.Attorney Matthew Malone was previously appointed to represent Stanley Gardner and the case has been pending by Complaint while investigatory materials were reviewed by both sides. Tunnell commented,“ Attorney Malone asked to withdraw from the case due to taking on new employment, we’ve been trading materials and engaging in discussions, but at this point it’s been almost three months and we needed to get the case moving. With the withdraw of Attorney Malone, it just made sense to go ahead and present the case to the Grand Jury to get the case on track”.
Attorney Donald Wick of Mt. Gilead has been appointed to replace Attorney Malone and take over representation of the Defendant in the case. Tunnell stressed that the charge is merely an allegation that must be proven in a court of law. Stanley Gardner, as are all persons charged with crimes, is innocent until proven guilty.
Photo: Getty Images