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Koon
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — A 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to felonious assault and second-offense operating while intoxicated in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Aug. 20, for crashing into another vehicle while driving drunk Dec. 31, 2022 on Hoague Road in Grant Township.
The original charge of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury will be dismissed against Dakota Ryan Koon after his plea to the added two counts.
Koon’s plea arrangement calls for serving nine months in jail with work release if he’s eligible, said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand.
Koon will also be ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs with random testing; an alcohol assessment; driver’s license sanctions; and community service.
“The victim is doing well and is back to work,” said Prosecutor Hand. “The negotiated plea agreement was discussed at length with the victim. The plea of guilty as charged would have resulted in a sentence of five months in jail with work release, if eligible, and probation. The plea as negotiated allows for a longer period of incarceration and still holds him accountable for driving while intoxicated, second offense. The options of a plea as charged with a shorter jail sentence versus a plea to a four-year felony with a longer period of incarceration were discussed with the victim prior to the offer being extended to the defendant.
“The injuries testified to at the preliminary examination were substantial injuries to the victim’s back that required surgery, hospitalization and a long healing process.”
Felonious assault is punishable by up to four years, and second-offense operating while intoxicated is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 1 at 11:30 a.m.
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