Starke County Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall accepted a plea agreement Wednesday for Dwayne Clemons. Clemons plead guilty to two felony charges for an incident that occurred June 27th, 2009. Two other charges were dismissed.
In that incident, Clemons was charged with firing shots into a van carrying Jessie Sparks and a 9 year old girl. The shooting occurred after a physical altercation between Clemons and Sparks.
Clemons fled to Alabama, but was captured in June of 2010. He was extradited back to Starke County where he has been incarcerated since June 23rd.
In the plea agreement, Clemons plead guilty to Aggravated Battery, a Class B Felony, and Battery, a Class C Felony. One of the shots grazed the child.
Hall sentenced Clemons to 15 years on the Aggravated Battery charge, and 2 years on the Battery charge. The sentences will be served consecutively. Clemons will be eligible for parole in 8 1/2 years with good time served. He will be credited with time served in the Starke County jail.
In addressing the court, Clemons said he was drunk at the time of the altercation and has a drinking problem that has caused him to enter into similar situations. On the day of the offense, he said he drank 6 beers, and a 1/2 pint of whiskey. He apologized for the offense and said he never would have fired the gun if he had known there were children in the vehicle.
