Man accused of shooting 3 in drug deal gone bad takes plea deal
Quenton Dodson
From Ypsilanti Police
The 24-year-old Ypsilanti man accused of shooting three people near Eastern Michigan University’s campus in March in what police say was a botched drug deal took a plea deal Monday in the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
Quenton Dodson pleaded guilty to felony firearm and no contest to three counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Nine other counts, as well as a habitual offender status, will be dismissed at sentencing.
The prosecution, who needed time to think about any plea deal in the case, did not accept a deal as far as sentencing. Dodson will serve at least two years in prison on the felony firearm charge, a sentencing mandated by the state.
Judge Melinda Morris will decide Dodson's fate in the three assault counts he pleaded no contest to Monday. A charge of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Any time determined in those charges would be in addition to the two-year felony firearm sentence.
A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such by the court for sentencing purposes. Dodson's attorney, Washtenaw County Assistant Public Defender Stephen Adams, said the no contest pleas were entered to protect Dodson from civil liability.
The shooting incident occurred in Ypsilanti on March 23 in the 300 block of Jarvis. According to police, Dodson was attempting to sell Oxycontin to four people when the deal suddenly fell apart. Police said Dodson pulled out a gun and fired on the group, injuring three people between the ages of 18 and 20. One man was hit in the stomach, one suffered a hip wound and another was struck in the chest. All of them survived the incident. Dodson was eventually arrested in Detroit and brought back to Washtenaw County to face charges.
Dodson was charged with three counts each of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do bodily harm less than murder and four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. He also is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm.
All but the three charges of assault with intent to do bodily harm less than murder and felony firearm will be dismissed in the plea deal.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 26.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Dorina
Wed, Nov 21, 2012 : 9:38 p.m.
It's been eight months since the shooting, and AA.com is still reporting that four people were trying to buy drugs. How many court dates have taken place already, where the details were discussed ad nauseum? A little attention to detail would give this site a bit more credibility. One of the young men was attempting to buy drugs from the defendant. The others were along for the ride, driving one of the four back to his home. Ironically, the one with the genial idea to buy drugs was the only one who was not injured. Given the fact that they were shot at close range -- while shooter and victims were sitting in a car--it is a miracle that they all survived, and have completely recovered physically and emotionally. Thank God for that!
Mike Klobuchar
Tue, Nov 6, 2012 : 5:25 a.m.
No deals for those accused of violence. But then where would we put the mentally ill and druggies?
Lisa
Mon, Nov 5, 2012 : 10:53 a.m.
but shoplifting in the 1-2-3 rd degree gets you 93 days and lots of fines REALLY!! What are you telling the young people Judge go get a gun sell drugs and I will give you a big hug for being a habitual offender??????????????Dodson shame on you !! crime after crime and you walk like a charm. Hows that laptop working you stole in your bulgaries , how are those cell phones and crack working for you !!!Shame
Lisa
Mon, Nov 5, 2012 : 10:50 a.m.
Judge Melinda Morris will bake that cake and frost it too. She could care less about Rape victims, dead beat dads and felony with firearm . Dodson you have been in every county committing every crime and you may walk I don't think so. The Judge is retiring thank the lord. How did she even get this job???????
RJA
Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
Why are ANY charges being dismissed? If You did it, NO plea deals!
Cathy
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 9:54 p.m.
Hopefully all the victims are fully recovered. However, surviving a gunshot wound does not necessarily mean that there is no permanent injury. When this moron walks out of prison, what physical and psychological pain will his victims continue to suffer?
r treat
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 9:33 p.m.
Meanwhile, the guy that hit the goose... Unreal!
Westfringe
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
Ridiculous. No plea deals for violent repeat offenders! Melinda Morris is dangerous, can't wait for her to leave.
The Black Stallion3
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
She needs to go in order to keep us all safe.....not sure who the bigger criminal is anymore !!!
a2roots
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
Are you kidding me? This guy is a menace and needs to have the door slammed much harder.
Superior Twp voter
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
What a sweetheart deal! Unreal....
The Black Stallion3
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.
Our court systems need an overhaul immediately.......starting with Judge Morris !!!!
B2Pilot
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
"Stephen Adams, said the no contest pleas were entered to protect Dodson from civil liability" - YEP don't hold him responsible for trying to kill 3 people while selling drugs with an unregistered handgun on a college campus after serving previous jail time that obviously meant nothing either. Who is the victim here?
justcurious
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
Please, not another Morris sentencing. He could have killed all three. "Police said Dodson pulled out a gun and fired on the group, injuring three people between the ages of 18 and 20. One man was hit in the stomach, one suffered a hip wound and another was struck in the chest. "
Jeffersonian Liberal
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
The Judge will hold the thugs hand and ask him to promise to be a good boy. Progressives will whine for more gun laws.
Billy
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 11:47 a.m.
I'm guessing the reason that drug deal "suddenly fell apart" was because the convict here raised the price at the last minute in hopes of extorting money. Also......good job accepting a plea deal in a case with overwhelming evidence against a recidivist.
Silly Sally
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
Please say it isn't so, Not Judge Melinda Morris. She will bring him a lollipop and only give him the mandated 2 years. When this clown is out in 2years and 25 months from now, does a repeat act, will her apology suffice? No, and she needs to go.
Ryan
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.
"Quenton Dodson pleaded guilty to felony firearm and no contest to three counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Nine other counts, as well as a habitual offender status, will be dismissed at sentencing." Typical. Most of the charges dismissed, including habitual offender status. Maybe Judge Morris will bake Mr. Dodson a cake as well.