Etna Green Man Receives Local Sentence After Vehicle Accident Resulting In Serious Injury
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
Dustin Eugene Gordon
WARSAW — An Etna Green man will serve a local sentence after a serious vehicle accident in which an individual was flown from the scene for their injuries.
In the first case, Dustin Eugene Gordon, 32, 210 S. Main St. Lot 9, Etna Green, was charged with causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body, a level 5 felony. He was also charged with possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony, in a second case.
Three additional charges were dismissed through plea agreements.
Gordon was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court Three on Tuesday, July 25.
For causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle, Kosciusko Superior Court Three Judge Chad Miner sentenced Gordon to four years in the Kosciusko County Jail. Two years and eight months will be executed, and one year and four months was suspended on probation. Gordon also received a six-month KCJ sentence for narcotic drug possession. Both cases will be served consecutively.
Gordon’s driving privileges were suspended for four years. He was also approved to serve the executed portion of his sentence through the Kosciusko County work release program.
At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler said the prosecutor’s office had not received any restitution requests from Jonathan Connolly, who was seriously injured in the vehicle accident.
Both Buehler and Defense Attorney Isaiah Vanderpool noted the accident’s severity. Vanderpool said Gordon was sincerely remorseful for his actions, describing what happened as “an eye-opening experience.”
Gordon said he was participating in Serenity House’s program and was one month away from graduating before familial issues led to him relapsing.
“My choices directly hurt someone and I take full responsibility for that,” said Gordon. “I think about the accident every day and how important it is to make the right decisions. I made a horrible decision and failed in picking a healthy way to deal with my situation.”
Gordon also expressed an interest in writing a letter to Connolly to apologize for what happened.
On Oct. 29, 2022, a Milford Police officer responded to a two-vehicle accident on SR 15, near Turkey Creek Drive. The accident involved Gordon and Connolly.
According to court documents, Gordon was traveling north on SR 15 when his vehicle crossed the center line and hit Connolly’s vehicle. Connolly was extricated from his vehicle and airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital. He sustained a broken arm, possible damage to his aorta, and a broken and dislocated hip.
A certified chemical test showed Gordon had marijuana, a schedule I controlled substance, in his blood. He also told officers he used fentanyl earlier in the day.
On Nov. 19, 2022, law enforcement responded to a drug overdose in Warsaw. Officers administered four doses of Narcan to Gordon before he was taken to a local hospital.
While searching Gordon’s jacket looking for identification, officers found fentanyl and heroin.
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