Ypsilanti gunman sentenced to 7-10 years in drug-related shooting
Quenton Dodson
From Ypsilanti Police
The 24-year-old Ypsilanti man who shot three men during a drug deal gone wrong in March last week was sentenced to serve to 10 years in prison, according to court records.
In October, Quenton Dodson pleaded guilty to felony firearm and no contest to three counts of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less.
On Dec. 3, Judge Melinda Morris sentenced Dodson to five to 10 years on the three assault charges. He also received a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term for the felony firearm charge.
He is credited with eight months and 11 days in jail. Morris did not object to Dodson's participation in a prison boot camp, according to court records.
The shooting incident occurred near the Eastern Michigan University campus in Ypsilanti on March 23 in the 300 block of Jarvis. According to police, Dodson was attempting to sell Oxycontin when the deal suddenly fell apart. Police said Dodson pulled out a gun and fired on a group of four people, injuring three men 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 was 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 were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
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
Thu, Dec 13, 2012 : 3:41 a.m.
I sat in on a couple of the court sessions. Very interesting case, sentencing issue aside. Only *one* of the four young men was actually trying to buy drugs. And you might have guessed it: he was the one not injured! The others went along for the ride as they were on their way to drop one of them off at his house. None of the four had any guns/knives. The buyer and Quenton had just met that day or the previous... in court. Seriously? Who makes friends with people they meet in court? According to the defense lawyer, the gun just went off as the shooter sat in the car arguing with the buyer (ha! what are the chances that a gun goes off and hits 3 of 4 people? should've stayed awake in statistics class!). Also according to the same lawyer, none of the victims suffered great bodily harm. LOL Seriously? No harm when shot at close range? WOW! One young man was shot straight through the abdomen: bullet went into the abdomen, narrowly missing his heart and spine, and exited out the back -- went clear through him. He spent weeks in the hospital. The second was hit in the chest, but only by a miracle the bullet only lodged in his muscles. He underwent emergency surgery and spent the weekend in the hospital. The third was hit in the hip and the bullet went in one side and out the other, thankfully not shattering any bones or hitting any major blood supply. And what about psychological harm? The impact on everyone's families? Hmmm... I wish Quenton and the young man trying to buy drugs the best. May they turn their lives around and steer others away from making such terrible life choices.
james farmer
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
Bootcamp is 90 days,so ;he will do his first 2 years in prison and if there is enough beds open at S.A.I. (Boot camp) then he will be tranferred from prison to S.A.I. I went to S.A.I back in 2000 and I heard its very easy now compared to 2000. I feel sorry for the victims and i also hope this young man will learn from his mistakes and move on with his like.
HB11
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
How is this not attempted murder??? Bootcamp? Bootcamp is for folks entering the armed services, not felons.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 6:15 a.m.
I saw the headline and I knew this was a Melinda Morris case. If someone from a particular group commits a crime that usually results in life in prison, she will find a way to have him back on the streets in time to shoot again. Blood is on her hands, make no mistake about it.
Amber Coleman
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 5:49 a.m.
The 24-year-old Ypsilanti man who shot three men during a drug deal gone wrong in March last week was sentenced to seve to 10 years in prison, according to court records. seve? Even my browsers auto spell check picked that up.
John Counts
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 5:49 p.m.
This has been corrected. Thanks.
Susan Ursus
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 12:45 a.m.
I'm not sure if he'll have to do the two years for the gun first, but Boot Camp is only 90 days. The idea that a criminal can be cured by marching and calisthenics is an old one, but its efficacy in preventing recidivism has never been scientifically validated. If this guy is so enthusiastic about shooting at people, perhaps he should go to real Boot Camp in the real military. That way the state saves money, the military gets a much-needed recruit, he'll definitely be out of Michigan for a few years, and, as a bonus, he might even be KIA, which is the definitive solution to this problem.
tdw
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Susan......I believe in being tough on crime, perhaps to the extreme.But I think your KIA comment is extremely disrespectful towards the men and women who have been killed in action serving this country.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 3:24 a.m.
^^Either that, or he will improve his aim.
slave2work
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
so... he serves 2 years.. then bootcamp.. which negates prison time.. he's then out on parole.. bootcamp is like 120 days... wtg judge
obviouscomment
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.
While I understand the issues with many rulings by Judge Morris, in this particular case it hits close to home since I went to school with Quenton. I remember him as a kind and calm person. It is so sad to see the choices he's made in life. I sincerely hope that he is thankful for the break he is receiving and that he gets his life turned around in order to use what is left of it wisely.
Susan Ursus
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
I assume you never tried to buy OxyContin from him.
Superior Twp voter
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
He is 24 and may get a shot (pardon the pun) at boot camp, per Judge Morris. !!???!!???
gladys
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 11:04 p.m.
I thought Melinda Morris was retiring in November! He shoots THREE guys and only gets 5-10 years? And with prison overcrowding he'll serve what, 2 years and get out to go shoot someone else!
John Counts
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
Hi gladys, FYI: Judge Morris' term is up in January.