Dashawn Hale sentenced in fatal crash

COSHOCTON − A Conesville man was sentenced Wednesday in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court on charges related to a fatal traffic crash.

Dashawn M. Hale, 20, was indicted in August for two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree felonies, and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drug of abuse or a combination, first-degree misdemeanors, from an incident on April 24. He tested positive for marijuana.

Hale entered guilty pleas to charges on March 6. In a plea deal, the state agreed to drop one count of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of operating a vehicle under the influence. The state also agreed to not oppose bond or a pre-sentence investigation and to take no position on sentencing or judicial release.

The hearing was presided over by visiting Judge Linton D. Lewis Jr., retired from Perry County Common Pleas Court.

Lewis gave Hale an indefinite term of 3 to 4.5 years in prison for the felony charge and six months in jail for the misdemeanor, to be served concurrently. The minimum term is mandatory. Hale was also fined $1,000 for the OVI. He must serve 18 months to 3 years of post release control and his drive's license was suspended for life.

The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office said the wreck occurred at the intersection of Ohio 16 and Ohio 83 in Jackson Township. Authorities reported Hale failed to yield the right of way while driving a 2017 Jeep Compass, causing a 2006 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle driven by Kyle Bookless, 48, of Coshocton, to strike the Jeep.

Bookless was thrown from the motorcycle and declared dead at the scene. Hale had two passengers in the Jeep and they were all treated for minor injuries at Coshocton Regional Medical Center.

Bookless was born in Zanesville and graduated from River View High School in 1992. He served as a firefighter and paramedic with the Newark Fire Department.

Hale did not speak on his behalf in court.

Defense attorney Marie Seiber said her client was very unlikely to be a repeat offender and had a clean criminal record. She also said while Hale tested positive for THC, an active element in marijuana, there was nothing else to indicate he was impaired or acting impaired at the scene. She asked for the minimum sentence of two years.

"He has shown genuine remorse from the very beginning," Seiber said. "This was a tragic accident."

Prosecutor Jason Given read five victim impact statements from members of Bookless' family. Speaking in court were Kelly Fender, the victim's sister, and two friends, Michael Perkins and John Kollar.

Fender said the only positive outcome of the tragedy would be if Hale's life changes for the better from this point. She said Bookless was a caring person and he would want something good to come from it.

"DaShawn, it's my sincere hope that you wake every morning and give at least a moment to consider that we are still grieving and to consider the magnitude of what you've done not only to my family, but to your own," Fender said. "We'll never get my brother back, but at the end of your sentence you get to come home to your family and have a second chance. Please don't take it for granted."

Perkins said he forgave Hale, because it's what Bookless would have wanted and he felt it was the best way to honor his memory. Perkins recalled a conversation he had with Bookless about spiritual beliefs shortly before his death. Perkins said Bookless was a Christian and it gives him peace to know where Bookless is and they will see each other again in heaven.

"It's not lost on me that Kyle's death had an impact not only on his family and friends, but also yours," Perkins told Hale. "You'll carry that weight for the rest of your life. Additionally you'll be judged by a much higher power than this courtroom. Don't let this tragedy and a horrible choice define the rest of your life. Instead, find faith in God, repent, find a way to forgive yourself and get to work on finding a way to honor Kyle's memory."

Kollar wasn't sure what Bookless would say if he was present. He did know there would be no screaming or hateful words spoken. Bookless would offer words of kindness, reason and wisdom that Hale would be a fool not to follow.

"There is simply not enough time to make you understand what has been taken from his family, friends and the entire world," Kollar told Hale. "You are left with an opportunity to continue to make poor decisions and see where that leads or live more like Kyle lived − work hard, make better decisions and leave the world a better place than you found it."

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Dashawn Hale sentenced in fatal crash