LISBON - A motorist who lost his license for six years and served more than 14 months in prison for killing a pedestrian in 2005 gained limited driving privileges for work.

Jeremy Simpson, 35, formerly of Lisbon whose last known address was Butcher Road, Leetonia, had his petition for limited driving privileges granted by Judge David Tobin of Common Pleas Court after a hearing last week.

Tobin found him guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide in May 2005 for causing the Oct. 31, 2004 death of John "Jack" Bennett. The 85-year-old victim was walking across state Route 45 in Madison Township in front of his home to retrieve his morning paper when Simpson passed another northbound vehicle in a no passing zone and hit him.

He had been sentenced to three years in prison, won an appeal and was re-sentenced to three years in prison in January 2007, but was granted early release last year.

The order by Tobin said Simpson can drive from his Leetonia home to his place of employment at Dart Trucking and then return home. He's not permitted to make any detours or stops. Any violation of traffic laws, including speeding, will result in revocation of the driving privileges.

In another motorist matter, the Columbiana County grand jury issued no indictment against Matthew Baker, 28, of 7574 Rose Drive, Lisbon, resulting in his case for aggravated vehicular assault being dismissed. Baker's case on the third-degree felony charge had been bound over from county Municipal Court.

Court documents alleged Baker struck a man with his car on state Route 45 in Salem Township on Sept. 5 after the two men had a fight.