ROAD RAGE SUSPECT INDICTED FOR FELONIOUS ASSAULT AND ROBBERY OF 74 YEAR OLD MAN IN HILLTOP AREA

Posted on 2/2/2017

Defendant: Michael Clay Hessler

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This man blamed an innocent 74 year old man who had stopped at a pump to put gas in his car, for an accident that didn’t even involve him.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Michael Clay Hessler, age 40, for one count of Felonious Assault with Specification (F-2), one count of Robbery with Specification (F-2), and one count of Robbery (F-3), for a total of three counts.  On January 22, 2017, Larry Stokes, age 74, and his passenger Nicholas Meyers, age 29, pulled up to a gas pump to refuel Stoke’s car.  Hessler attempted to pull his car in between the victim’s car and the parking lot curb, Hessler’s car hit the parking lot curb, and he immediately started screaming at the 74 year old victim.  Stokes and Meyers left the gas station and it is alleged that Hessler followed the victims, ramming their car multiple times.  Stokes lost control of his car and wrecked into a ditch.  It is further alleged that Hessler exited his car and assaulted and robbed Stokes, while trapping him in his car.  “There are Repeat Violent Offender specifications on two of the counts in this indictment that are based on a 2011 Robbery conviction Hessler has from Franklin County,” O’Brien stated.  Arraignment for Hessler is set for this Friday, February 3rd, 2017 at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.