By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Shawn Dion Hale

WARSAW — A Warsaw man will serve six years in prison for his involvement in a fatal vehicle accident.

Shawn Dion Hale, 23, Warsaw, was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, a level 3 felony; and causing death while operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body, a level 4 felony.

Hale was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday, July 3. In total, he received a nine-year prison sentence, with six years executed and three years suspended on probation.

Kenyan C. Bennett, 24, Warsaw, passed away after succumbing to injuries he sustained in the accident. Two of Bennett’s relatives addressed Hale in court through victim impact statements. The family described Hale and Bennett as best friends.

Sue Barton, Bennett’s grandmother, recalled the night of July 17, 2022, when Hale initially told Barton he found Bennett in the roadway. She also said Bennett’s mother, LeAnn Bennett, treated Hale like a son, allowing Hale to live with her at one point.

“Kenyan should have known better but you should have too,” said Barton. “I hope you think about your actions that night. We’re praying for you.”

Barton said Kenyan was an organ donor, with his kidneys going to two 40-year-old men.

Alishia Bennett, Kenyan’s sister, told Hale the Bennetts thought of him as family.

“We’re traumatized and we know you probably are too,” said Alishia.

After the family’s statements, Prosecutor Brad Voelz told Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed to consider Hale’s substance abuse history and his character as aggravators in the case.

“He told the passengers in his vehicle to lie about what happened,” said Voelz. “The sentence should be strict because of what he did. This was an act of extreme cowardice.”

Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon asked Reed to consider Recovery While Incarcerated as part of Hale’s prison sentence.

“Everybody is in agreement that everyone was being stupid that night, that no one in that vehicle was out to hurt somebody,” said Rigdon.

Hale directly addressed Kenyan’s family and apologized for his actions.

“I’m really, truly sorry,” said Hale. “I’ve done a lot of thinking about it and my decisions were not the smartest. I lost one of my best friends that day.”

“I can’t imagine what I’d be going through if I killed my best friend,” said Reed. “Whatever I say or do can’t bring Kenyan back.”

For leaving the scene of a fatal accident, Reed sentenced Hale to nine years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Hale also received a six-year DOC sentence for causing death while operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body. Both counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time.

The last three years of Hale’s nine-year prison sentence were suspended on probation. Hale has 262 days of jail time credit, plus good time credit as calculated. He must also pay $9,193.63 in restitution to LeAnn Bennett and/or her insurance provider.

On July 17, 2022, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a vehicle accident on Clark Street, near the intersection of Park Avenue. Upon arrival, the officer saw Hale tending to an injured person in the roadway. The person was identified as Kenyan.

According to court documents, Hale said he found Kenyan bleeding in the roadway. Kenyan sustained a serious head injury and was flown to a Fort Wayne hospital, where he later died on July 25, 2022.

As the investigation continued, the Warsaw officer received surveillance footage from a Clark Street residence. In the footage, a vehicle is shown speeding east on Clark Street, with Kenyan skidding to a stop behind the vehicle. After Kenyan skid on the road, the vehicle stopped and backed up to Kenyan before its driver exited the vehicle and checked on Kenyan.

Hale said he went to Kenyan’s home to pick him up and told Kenyan to get on the back of a Chevrolet Cruze he was driving, as the vehicle’s passenger compartment was full.

On Aug. 18, 2022, an Indiana State Department of Toxicology report on Hale’s blood showed Hale had a schedule I controlled substance metabolite in his body at the time of the accident.