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Iowa man who got behind wheel of van, full of dependent individuals, while intoxicated pleads guilty

By Steve Woodhouse, Knoxville Journal-Express, Iowa

An Iowa man who got behind the wheel of a van, full of dependent individuals, while intoxicated pled guilty and was sentenced this morning in Marion County District Court.

Shawn Warren Robertson, 24, climbed into the driver’s seat of an opportunity center van full of handicapped people while drunk in July. The incident occurred at Marion County Park in Knoxville.

Robertson pled guilty to two counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent, as well as one count of operating while intoxicated, in court Friday. In exchange for this, several more charges against him will be dropped.

The defendant chose to waive several rights and the court immediately proceeded to sentence him on the charges. Judge Terry Rickers sentenced Robertson to 10 years each on the two neglect charges, which are felonies, and one year for the OWI charge. The OWI sentence will run concurrent with the felony sentences, though the felony sentences are to be served consecutively. This means Robertson may face 20 years in prison. However, the prison sentence was suspended.

“Mr. Robertson has made great strides while in custody,” Robertson’s attorney, Jacob Mason, said. Robertson has been receiving treatment while in jail this summer. Rickers asked Robertson why he took the van.

“I was under the influence of drugs and alcohol,” Robertson said. “I didn’t really think about it.” Rickers followed this by asking how long Robertson has had this problem. Robertson indicated it has been many years.

“So pretty much your whole life you’ve had a substance abuse problem?” Rickers said. Robertson affirmed.

Rickers called Robertson’s actions “breathtakingly irresponsible.” He added that Robertson, as well as the public at large and the individuals on the van, are fortunate that further tragedy did not occur.

“Part of me says this case has ‘prison time’ written all over it,” Rickers said. Rickers followed the recommendations of County Attorney Ed Bull to suspend the prison sentence. Robertson will remain in the custody of the Marion County Jail until a bed opens at King House, a halfway house for substance abuse offenders. Though the sentence is suspended, he could still serve the 20 years in prison if he does not fulfill the court’s requirements.

“You’ve got a lot of prison hanging over your head,” Rickers told Robertson. “Good luck to you, sir.”

Bull said he recommended that the prison time be suspended because the Department of Corrections believed Robertson would benefit from the treatment. Rehabilitating offenders is part of the considerations the court makes when imposing a sentence.

“This gentleman made a terrible mistake in June,” Bull said. “In my mind, if we are able to treat the cause successfully, it promotes the goals of the overall sentencing.” Bull added that there is incentive for Robertson to follow through, with 20 years of prison possible.

“He will either learn from his mistake or go to prison,” Bull said.

Robertson will be on probation for three years. In addition to the time, he was ordered to pay costs, fees, surcharges and fines.|

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