Butler County lawmaker won't face career-ending felony

Butler County lawmaker Wes Retherford won't be forced to resign after he was found passed out at a McDonald's drive-thru.

Retherford, 33, of Hamilton, will not face a felony gun charge for the loaded firearm found inside his truck on March 12. A Butler County grand jury did not have enough evidence to indict Retherford on the charge, which could have ended his career as a lawmaker if he were convicted.

The grand jury did indict Retherford on operating a vehicle impaired, a first-degree misdemeanor. That case is still pending. A Butler County Sheriff's Office report indicated Retherford swayed, smelled of alcohol and nearly fell over during a sobriety test.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser, aware of the scrutiny Retherford’s case would receive in Butler County, sent a three-page, single-spaced news release detailing his role in the proceedings, which "brought out more irons in the fire than a Texas cattle ranch."

Read more: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/04/18/rep-wes-retherford-indicted-after-ovi-arrest/100365546/