Man learns sentenced after pleading guilty to charges connected to deadly head-on crash

BUTLER COUNTY — A man has learned his punishment after pleading guilty to charges connected to a deadly head-on crash back in June.

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Leodegario Cruz Ortiz, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated homicide back in October, according to court records.

As previously reported by News Center 7, deputies responded on June 8 to a head-on crash on U.S. 127 south of Harris Road in Milford Road.

A Toyota Camry was traveling southbound when it went left of center and hit another car head-on. Christopher VanZant, 40, of Fountain City, Indiana, drove the other vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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It was determined that Ortiz drove over 80 mph and alcohol is believed to be a factor.

A judge sentenced him to 11-16.5 years in prison, Cincinnati TV station WKRC reported.

Ortiz had been living in Hamilton illegally and did not have a valid U.S. Driver’s license with him, WXIX TV said.

VanZant was a well-known DJ in the Richmond and Cincinnati areas, his obituary said.

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