Man gets prison for impaired driving death

NORWALK — A Willard man was recently sentenced to prison after causing another man's death in a motor vehicle crash. Galen K. Barnett, 61, of the 600 block of W. Pearl St., pleaded guilty in February to two third-degree felonies: failure to stop after an accident and aggravated vehicular homicide. In exchange for his plea, the state dropped a second-degree felony count of aggravated vehicular homicide, first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter and misdemeanor OVI. Judge James Conway sentenced Barnett to serve four-and-a-half years in prison. Barnett was also ordered to pay $11,500 in restitution. The crime At about 1:40 p.m., on Nov. 23, 2023, officers were called to the 400 block of Maplewood St. in Willard, where they found the body of Allen Sizemore outside. Willard police Chief Shannon Chaffins called the death suspicious. Barnett's indictment states, "on or about the 23rd day of November, 2023, at the county of Huron aforesaid, did, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, cause the death of A. B. S. as the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of Section 4511.19 of the Revised Code." Police previously identified the victim as Allen Sizemore, 59. That section is the one for operating a vehicle while impaired. Barnett was arrested and held in Huron County Jail on an initial charge of vehicular manslaughter.