By SYDNEY KENT
A man from Ossian will spend the next two and a half years in prison for his role in a shooting involving four juveniles in May.
Dustin Sanders, 19, was sentenced to two years and 182 days in the Indiana Department of Correction with no time suspended.
Earlier this month, Sanders pled guilty to one count of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony. One charge of battery using a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, was dismissed under a plea agreement with the state.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the charges were filed after police responded to a report that a juvenile sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder and chest area. It was reported that the teen was driving home with the wound and crashed his car on the way.
Upon arrival, he was alert and able to give details regarding the shooting.
The teen told police that he and another 15-year-old met with three people at the Petroleum United Methodist Church parking lot to sell a gun. However, he reportedly said the subjects took the gun without paying and sped off. He further explained that he and the other juvenile chased after the trio in their vehicle.
At some point during the chase, the subjects allegedly began firing a shotgun from the window of a small blue Mazda. A bullet that made it through the windshield of his car was responsible for the wound he sustained in the incident.
Upon further investigation, police learned that the Mazda belonged to the parent of a juvenile who lent it to one of the teens involved. That teen was then taken into custody and confirmed he was with the fourth juvenile involved, along with Sanders. He advised that he drove the Mazda away after failing to pay for the gun and that Sanders and the other juvenile began firing their guns from their car.
When taken in for questioning, Sanders reportedly denied any involvement in the case initially. However, he eventually confirmed the events detailed by the other teens.
Sanders was recommended for Purposeful Incarceration in prison and will be eligible for a sentence modification upon completing the program.
Because the three additional suspects in this case are juveniles, identifying information is not available. All four juveniles were referred to Wells County Juvenile Probation for charges related to the incident.
sydney@news-banner.com
