$100,000 Bond Set for Columbus Man Accused in U.S. 30 Road Rage Shooting
ASHLAND, Ohio — A Columbus man accused of firing a handgun at a moving semi-truck on U.S. Route 30 appeared by video Monday, October 5, for a bond hearing in Ashland County Common Pleas Court.
Magistrate Paul T. Lange set bond at $100,000 for Frank Andrew King II, 34, who faces one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, following the October 1 incident in Vermillion Township.
The bond may be posted through cash, a surety bond or qualifying property. Lange explained that the court did not authorize a 10-percent cash deposit option, although King could contact a bondsman whose fees would be determined by that company.
If released, King must wear a GPS monitor, remain at his approved residence between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., possess no firearms and have no direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim. He must also remain in Ohio unless the court grants written permission.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Laura Stanley requested a $100,000 cash bond, arguing that the alleged discharge of a firearm at a moving commercial vehicle on a public highway presented a significant public safety risk.
According to Stanley’s account of the investigation, the incident began as a traffic dispute. The semi-truck driver flashed his lights to signal King to move into the driving lane, and the drivers exchanged hand gestures as the truck passed.
Stanley alleged that King then fired one shot, striking the passenger-side door of the semi. She told the court that, when officers located King, he acknowledged firing his handgun once toward the passenger side of the truck.
Stanley also said she was unaware of any criminal history for King.
Before setting bond, Lange reminded King that he had the right to remain silent and that the hearing concerned bond rather than a determination of guilt.
King told the court he was approximately two months away from completing an associate degree in marketing management technology at the University of Cincinnati. He also described himself as the primary caregiver for his mother and said he has three young children.
“It’s just a lot of people depending on me,” King told the court.
After reviewing King’s financial circumstances, Lange found that he qualified for court-appointed counsel and appointed attorney Kimberly Stout-Sherrer to represent him.
The magistrate explained that bond could be reconsidered after King had an opportunity to speak with his attorney.
He is prohibited from using, consuming or possessing alcohol or drugs of abuse, including products containing THC. He must enroll in the court’s bond and drug-testing program and submit to random testing at his own expense.
The GPS requirements include a $500 deposit before release and a daily monitoring fee of $5. Violating bond conditions could result in arrest and a subsequent court hearing.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s previously released account, the incident occurred at approximately 8:50 a.m. Thursday, October 1, on eastbound U.S. 30 near State Route 60.
John S. Nervo Jr., 53, of Canton, was driving a 1992 Freightliner semi-truck, while King was driving a 2018 Nissan Altima.
Troopers alleged that King fired a single round from a 9mm firearm, striking the truck’s passenger-side door. Neither driver was injured.
Troopers from the Ashland and Wooster posts located the Nissan traveling eastbound on U.S. 30 in Wooster and took King into custody without incident. The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
King’s next hearing, an initial appearance in case 26-CRI-174, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, at 1 p.m. by video. If he posts bond before then, the court has ordered him to report to the courthouse for the hearing.
The charge remains an allegation. King is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
