Former Stone County Deputy Sentenced to 120 Days in Deadly Hit and Run
Wrongful Death Civil Suit Concludes, Judgement Entered Against Bouley
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July 5, 2018
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Shawn T. Bouley
Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Deputy who hit a pedestrian in Springfield in 2017 was sentenced last week to shock incarceration and probation.
Shawn T. Bouley, 41, of Reeds Spring, was sentenced in Greene County Circuit Court on Friday, June 29, for felony leaving the scene of an accident with physical injury. Bouley was sentenced to serve 120 days in the Greene County Jail, starting July 6.
Bouley pled guilty to the January 22, 2017 hit and run in Springfield that led to the death of Bradley Bizzle. Bouley reportedly knew he hit something, but did not stop because he was “scared.” He was allegedly driving “drunk or buzzed,” according to court documents.
At the time of the incident, Bouley was employed as a jailer at the Stone County Jail. The next day, when he heard about the fatality in Springfield, he reportedly knew that he had caused it, resigned his position, and reported the incident to Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader, who contacted Springfield Police Department.
The Springfield Police interview Bouley that same day and he admitted to hitting Bizzle and not stopping to check. After being arrested and arraigned on the charge of leaving the scene of an accident, Bouley pled not guilty and the case was originally set to go to trial in March of 2018. However, after several court appearances and one failure to appear, Bouley changed his plea to guilty on April 23.
Dan Patterson, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney, said he believed the sentence was adequate and the charge was correct. “Under the facts of this incident and the applicable law, the felony leaving the scene of an accident charge was the proper charge. At the sentencing hearing the State asked for the maximum sentence, a four year sentence in the department of corrections with probation denied and the defendant’s attorney requested probation. The Court sentenced the defendant to four years but suspended the sentence, placed the defendant on probation and ordered him to serve 120 days shock incarceration,” Patterson said.
In addition to the criminal case, the family of the victim, Bradley Bizzle, entered a civil wrongful death suit against Bouley. A final judgement in that case was entered on June 6. According to the final judgement and other online court records, Bouley never responded to summons or discovery requirements.
Due to his failure to respond in accordance with court rules, Judge Michael J. Cordonnier found in favor of Bizzle’s family and against Bouley. Bouley was ordered by the court to pay damages to family. Due to the deceased’s age, those damages were set at $1.5 million dollars, to be distributed to the five living family members and to recoup the $13,300 in funeral costs.
Because Bouley was not present and had never responded to summons, the family is responsible for collecting the judgement from Bouley distributing the funds as set out by the Judge, less attorney’s fees.
The Stone County Deputy who hit a pedestrian in Springfield in 2017 was sentenced last week to shock incarceration and probation.
Shawn T. Bouley, 41, of Reeds Spring, was sentenced in Greene County Circuit Court on Friday, June 29, for felony leaving the scene of an accident with physical injury. Bouley was sentenced to serve 120 days in the Greene County Jail, starting July 6.
Bouley pled guilty to the January 22, 2017 hit and run in Springfield that led to the death of Bradley Bizzle. Bouley reportedly knew he hit something, but did not stop because he was “scared.” He was allegedly driving “drunk or buzzed,” according to court documents.
At the time of the incident, Bouley was employed as a jailer at the Stone County Jail. The next day, when he heard about the fatality in Springfield, he reportedly knew that he had caused it, resigned his position, and reported the incident to Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader, who contacted Springfield Police Department.
The Springfield Police interview Bouley that same day and he admitted to hitting Bizzle and not stopping to check. After being arrested and arraigned on the charge of leaving the scene of an accident, Bouley pled not guilty and the case was originally set to go to trial in March of 2018. However, after several court appearances and one failure to appear, Bouley changed his plea to guilty on April 23.
Dan Patterson, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney, said he believed the sentence was adequate and the charge was correct. “Under the facts of this incident and the applicable law, the felony leaving the scene of an accident charge was the proper charge. At the sentencing hearing the State asked for the maximum sentence, a four year sentence in the department of corrections with probation denied and the defendant’s attorney requested probation. The Court sentenced the defendant to four years but suspended the sentence, placed the defendant on probation and ordered him to serve 120 days shock incarceration,” Patterson said.
In addition to the criminal case, the family of the victim, Bradley Bizzle, entered a civil wrongful death suit against Bouley. A final judgement in that case was entered on June 6. According to the final judgement and other online court records, Bouley never responded to summons or discovery requirements.
Due to his failure to respond in accordance with court rules, Judge Michael J. Cordonnier found in favor of Bizzle’s family and against Bouley. Bouley was ordered by the court to pay damages to family. Due to the deceased’s age, those damages were set at $1.5 million dollars, to be distributed to the five living family members and to recoup the $13,300 in funeral costs.
Because Bouley was not present and had never responded to summons, the family is responsible for collecting the judgement from Bouley distributing the funds as set out by the Judge, less attorney’s fees.