Middletown bar death could be classic case of 'one-punch homicide'

The person who allegedly hit a Middletown man, which caused him to fall off a stage and hit his dead before he later died, potentially could be involved in a classic case of “one-punch homicide,” according to Mike Gmoser, Butler County prosecutor.

It doesn’t matter, Gmoser said, whether the person who allegedly punched John Fugate, 46, of Middletown, Saturday morning inside Old Crow Bar intended harm. But since Fugate possibly died from the incident, the person could be charged with murder and face 15 years to life, Gmoser said.

Or the Butler County Grand Jury could indict the person for involuntary manslaughter or choose not to indict, Gmoser said.

Middletown police have not charged anyone in the death of Fugate, a local musician and father of three grown children, said Maj. Scott Reeve from the Middletown Division of Police. He said once the investigation is complete, the department will take the case directly to the prosecutor’s office for consideration.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on Fugate and said the cause of death is pending and more tests are needed, officials said.

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Rick McCrabb