Todd Michael Lane was arraigned this morning in Union County Common Pleas Courtroom 2. Lane is charged with the murder of John Dixon, May 27. Defense attorney Cliff Valentine said his client is not guilty. Judge Don Fraser set trial for Aug. 7. Bail was set at $50,000. Above, Lane and Valentine talk as Prosecutor Dave Phillips makes notes on the case.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
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The local man accused of murdering his roommate was in court this morning.
Todd Michael Lane, 43, of 627 E. Fourth St., was arraigned this morning in the Union County Common Pleas Court, charged with one count of murder as well as one count each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence. Lane is accused of killing John Dixon, 45, following a night drinking and an eventual argument May 27 at the home the men shared at 627 E. Fourth St., Marysville.
Lane was in court earlier this month, but did not have an attorney. Since then, public defender Cliff Valentine has been assigned the case. Valentine said he has already requested the evidence against his client. He said he anticipates having that information later this week.
Valentine entered a not-guilty plea on all three charges for his client.
Judge Don Fraser set the trial to begin Aug. 7. Because Lane is in jail, he has the right to a speedy trial within 90 days of his arrest. Fraser said he anticipates the trial will last five days. County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said it would likely take three days to present his evidence. Valentine said he hasn’t had enough time to consider how long the defense will take.
Fraser said Lane and Valentine can talk about the defense strategy and can file a waiver of speedy trial if they want.
Fraser said it is unlikely Lane will get out of jail before his trial date. Earlier in the arraignment hearing, Fraser set bail at $500,000.
Phillips said that the municipal court set bail when the charges were first filed in May. He said the “primary purpose” for the high bail amount is to protect the community.
Phillips detailed the injuries Dixon sustained as well as those Lane allegedly inflicted on two other bystanders.
Fraser said if Lane is released, he will have a curfew and will be required to wear an ankle monitor.
He is also required to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample to prosecutors.
Fraser asked Lane where he would live if he is able to make bail.
“Right now, I live at Tri-County Regional,” said Lane. “That’s where I reside.”
The man’s mother gave Lane her Coder-Holloway Road address and he relayed it to the judge.
Fraser also set a pretrial hearing for July 20. He said another pretrial hearing could be set if needed.
“If you need to be heard before that, then just inform the court and we will set it up,” Fraser said.
The judge asked Lane if he was being treated well at Tri-County Regional Jail. Lane said he was.
The prosecutor said there were accounts that Lane and Dixon had, “had some disagreements throughout the day.”
During the evening, Lane and Dixon went to a local bar at separate time. Lane left early and after the bar closed, Dixon went home with several friends to listen to music.
Eventually Lane and Dixon began to argue then fight.
The prosecutor explained the fight ended and at 4:32 a.m., Dixon called 911. When police arrived at the address given by Dixon, they found Lane standing over Dixon, who was face down on the porch with a head injury not breathing.
Lane allegedly ran into the home where officers tackled and arrested him.
Medical responders were able to revive Dixon who was taken to Memorial Hospital then transferred to the Ohio State Medical Center where he died two days later.
Phillips said the murder charge carries a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life in prison.