By John Estridge
A Sunman man was charged with a Level 5 Felony after an accident on Indiana 1 north of Brookville recently.
According to a Franklin County Sheriff’s Department press release, Dalton C. Beard, 21, at 4:20 p.m., Monday, November 23, was operating a 1998 Honda CRV eastbound on Duck Creek Road when he turned southbound onto Ind. 1. Beard went into the northbound lane during his turn and struck a 1999 Mercury Sable, driven by Thomas M. Robins, 83, Laurel.
Robins and his passenger, Monika M. Robins, 71, Laurel, were taken to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville by Brookville EMS-2 and Laurel EMS-3.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tyler Ford investigated the accident. He was assisted at the scene by Responder 24 and the Blooming Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
Beard was taken to the same hospital for a blood draw. Prior to that, he was given a breathalyzer, which recorded his BAC at .219. A reading of .08 or higher is considered grounds for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated. His was nearly three times the minimum reading needed, according to police.
Thus, he was arrested at the scene by Ford.
On Wednesday, November 25, Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp filed the Level 5 Felony charge, Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury.
An initial hearing for Beard has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 8, in front of Franklin Circuit Court 2 Judge Clay Kellerman.
Beard has been before the same court several times before.
According to mycase.in.gov, he pleaded guilty on November 12, 2019, in two separate cases.
In one, he pleaded guilty to Operating a Vehicle with Alcohol Concentration Equivalent to at least .08 but Less than .15, as a class C misdemeanor, and in the other, he pleaded guilty to Possession of Marijuana, as a class B misdemeanor. On the Possession guilty plea, Beard received 180 days in the Franklin County Security Center with all time suspended to probation. He also received fines, court costs and probation fees. With the former, the class C misdemeanor, Beard was sentenced to 60 days in the FCSC with all time suspended to probation to be served consecutive to the sentence on the Possession charge. He also was charged fines, fees and probation costs. His Operator’s License was suspended for 60 days effective on the sentencing date.
On the same date, he also pleaded guilty to Possession of Hash Oil, as a class B misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 180 days in the FCSC to be served consecutive to the other sentences. Again, he was charged fines, fees and probation costs. In the same case, he pleaded guilty to Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage, as a class C misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 60 days in the FCSC with all time suspended.
A charge of Illegal Possession of an Alcoholic Beverage that occurred on September 4, 2018 was dismissed as he went the Pre-trial Diversion route paying a fee to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of Possession of Marijuana, as a class B misdemeanor, on August 3, 2017, and was sentenced to 180 days in the FCSC with all time suspended to probation. He was ordered to pay fines, fees and probation costs.
If convicted of a Level 5 Felony, Beard could receive a sentence of one to six years in prison.
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