Union County Prosecuting Attorney Dave Phillips, left, and magistrate John Cannizzaro, right, are shown during the scheduled arraignment of Todd Lane, 43, for a murder charge in Union County Common Pleas Court Friday. Lane is shown on the video monitor from the Tri-County Jail in Mechanicsburg. The arraignment was continued until Lane could obtain legal representation.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Will Channell)
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Todd Lane says he has not talked with an attorney despite requests
The arraignment of a man accused of murdering his roommate was postponed Friday because he needed to speak to an attorney.
Todd M. Lane, 43, of East Fourth Street, in Marysville, was scheduled for arraignment Friday morning in Union County Common Pleas Court under one count of murder and one count each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
Over a video feed from the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg, Lane requested that presiding magistrate John Cannizzaro allow him to postpone his arraignment until he could speak to a lawyer.
“I’ve asked several times to speak with an attorney and I’ve yet to be contacted by an attorney or public defender,” he said. “I’d very much like to speak to legal counsel.”
Cannizzaro agreed and referred Lane to the Union County Criminal Defense Lawyers.
“These are very serious charges, and you need to make sure all of your rights are protected,” Cannizzaro said. “The court is here to ensure that as well.”
Lane’s charges stem from an incident that ended with his roommate, John Dixon, 45, dead, and another man injured. Earlier this week, Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said Marysville Police received a call from Dixon at about 4:32 a.m. on May 27, claiming Lane had assaulted him.
Police arrived to find Dixon on the ground and Lane standing over him. Police arrested Lane and medics transported Dixon to Memorial Hospital. He was later transferred to Ohio State University Medical Center, where Dixon died from head injuries. Phillips said Dixon was kept on life support until his family could see him.
Phillips said the charges carry a sentence of at least 15 years.
On Friday morning, Lane also requested he be present when the arraignment continued. Cannizzaro agreed.
At the request of Phillips, Lane’s bond remained at $500,000. He cited the severity of the charges as the reason to keep the figure in place.
“This is a (murder charge), and also a felonious assault allegation toward a second individual,” he said.