Publisher Agrees To Plea Deal After February Crash, Says He "Passed Out"

Medina Gazette publisher George Hudnutt, who was involved in a February 2011 crash, pleaded no contest Dec. 6 to failure to maintain physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence, a misdemeanor, according to records.

An initial trial in October resulted in a hung jury. 

Hudnutt, 56, of Avon Lake, is the chairman of the board of Lorain County Printing & Publishing Co., which also publishes The Chronicle-Telegram.

Hudnutt, originally charged with operating vehicle while impaired, told Avon Lake Patch this week a medical condition—not alcohol—was the reason for the Feb. 7 crash.

According to a police report, Mary O’Shea, who was driving a Chevrolet Blazer when it was rear-ended by Hudnutt's Audi S4 at the light at the intersection of Walker and Lear roads, told Hudnutt appeared drunk and tried to leave.

The initial charge was amended to a physical control offense before the trial.

“The crash wasn’t much of a crash,” Hudnutt said Dec. 8. “I passed out.”

Hudnutt said he was “really groggy” after the accident.

“I had some sort of medical condition,” he said. “I asked her to move out of the street. She said I was trying to leave.”

When the police arrived, Hudnutt refused a breathalyzer test, police said.

“I had a doctor finally diagnose me with low blood pressure,” Hudnutt said. “They lowered the charge after I presented the report in court.” 

Avon Lake prosecutor John Reuhlbach said the initial trial was hung with a 4-4 vote. Hudnutt had a physician testify on his behalf.

“We couldn’t overcome the physician’s testimony at $500 an hour,” he said. “(The physician) said he was acting that way because of this condition.”

Asked if the accident was alcohol-related, Hudnutt said, “I really can’t say.

“I had a couple of glasses of wine,” he said. “I didn’t pass out on a Friday night from drinking.”

Reuhlbach said Hudnutt testified during his trial he had been drinking.

“He said he had a few drinks,” Reuhlbach said.

Hudnutt was fined $1,000 and had his license suspended through Feb. 4, 2012. Reulbach said the suspension was the result of it being an alcohol-related offense.

Hudnutt was issued work driving privileges, according to court records. A charge of following too closely was dismissed Dec. 6.