ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Accused murderer Harold Wayne Johnson Jr. will go to trial Monday after lawyers failed to reach a plea agreement in his case.

Johnson, 46, of 32302 Firehouse Road, Lewisville is accused of the fatal shooting of Clint A. Stephens, 48, of Jerusalem. The deadly incident occurred on the side of Ohio 800 on Dec. 12. According to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, the two men met on the side of the highway, where Johnson exited his vehicle and allegedly shot Stephens, who was still inside his car.

Stephens was pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnson was arrested 15 minutes later by Monroe County sheriff’s deputies. He is charged with aggravated murder.

A competency evaluation found that Johnson was sane at the time of the shooting. A second evaluation was requested and granted but produced the same results. A plea agreement deadline in the case had been set for this past Tuesday. Johnsons is being represented by Public Defender Frank Pierce and has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity before Common Pleas Judge John Vavra.

The judge also addressed numerous other cases this past week, including the sentencing of a repeat DUI offender. Gregory Steven Honecker Jr., 51, of Bridgeport was sentenced for driving under the influence with the specification that this was the fifth such offense in 10 years, a felony of the fourth degree occurring April 8. A sentence of 120 days and an additional consecutive 30 months for the specification was imposed, for a total of two years and 10 months behind bars. His driver’s license was suspended for life.

Vavra pointed to Honecker’s prior record, including aggravated vehicular assault, for which he served 10 years in prison. Alcohol was also related in a prior case where he rolled a car into a creek, leading to the death of a passenger. Vavra added that Honecker’s license was suspended when the current offense occurred.

Vavra referred to Honecker’s pattern of alcohol abuse.

“The only time apparently he hasn’t used is when he’s been incarcerated in the penitentiary. He simply cannot or will not stop abusing substances,” Vavra said. “The court simply cannot ignore your record and the fact that you will not stop drinking and driving.”

In other matters:

Justin Allen Bradley, 27, of 55 Queens Drive Southwest, Warren, Ohio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey drugs onto a state facility on May 15, 2015. Sentencing was set for June 12.

Russell Conrad, 29, incarcerated, pleaded guilty to three counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving minors from Feb. 15-April 4. He faces a maximum of 24 months in prison and designation as a Tier 2 sex offender. Sentencing was set for June 12.

No plea agreement was reached in the case of Lucas McCland Crooks, 28, of 125 Gardners Run Road, Clarington. He is set to go to trial June 15 for aggravated robbery in a Nov. 8 incident.

Karissa Nicole Dutcher, 24, of 64631 Patterson Hill Road, Bellaire was sentenced to 36 months for conspiracy to commit burglary on March 17. Restitution of $5,000 was ordered to be paid jointly by her and two co-defendants, who have already been sentenced.

Jean Paul Geiger, 42, incarcerated, admitted to violating his probation by threatening another. His sentencing date was set for June 12. He originally was convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence on Sept. 2, 2014.

John D. Hurst, 41, of 51 Greely St., Tiffin, Ohio, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to convey prohibited items onto a detention facility on Aug. 1, 2015.

Lamar Darnell Johnson, 28, incarcerated, was arraigned and pleaded guilty of conspiracy to transport prohibited items onto the grounds of a government facility. He was sentenced to 18 months.

Michael Kenneth Lewis, 19, of 44525 Lafferty Road, St. Clairsville pleaded guilty to burglary, which occurred March 27. Sentencing was set for June 12. A pre-sentence investigation, Eastern Ohio Correction Center evaluation and victim impact statement were ordered.

Ricki David Rogers, 44, incarcerated, will go to trial July 18. He is charged with illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a governmental facility, a felony of the third degree occurring Nov. 20-Dec. 3, 2015.

George Spencer Thompson, 21, of 1358 95th St., Cleveland was sentenced to 18 months in prison for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle on Jan. 24. Vavra referred to Thompson’s prior record, which includes 11 felony convictions and numerous drug-related offenses. Vavra also pointed out warrants are currently active for Thompson out of Cleveland.