LAWRENCE COUNTY - SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 - William Cinamon was sentenced for causing a traffic accident at the Oolitic stoplight back in July111, 2020 under the influence of drugs, and driving without a license, driving while suspended.
Tuesday morning William Cinamon was taken into custody to serve out his sentence into the Department of Corrections. The plea agreement was reached between the State of Indiana and Public Defenders office to help the family not endure a jury trial according to Tim Sledd, public defender representing Cinamon in Tuesday's sentencing hearing.
The Plea Agreement:
Fined $300 plus court costs of $18.50
Recovery While incarcerated and upon successful completion of the appropriate substance abuse program will consider modification of the sentence
While completing the Recovery While Incarcerated requirements the defendant may seek modification and apply to the Lawrence County Problem Solving Court
Serve a sentence of 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 8 years executed and 2 years suspended for a total of six years to be served at the IDOC.
Probation is to begin after the executed portion of the sentence.
730 days Supervised probation with payment of probation fees and monthly fee of $30.
Complete 160 Hours of Community Service
If unemployed must complete the Introduction of Local Jobs and Skills Course
By Indiana Law he must serve at least 75% of his sentence.
Accident victims Robbie Roberts (left) and Joshua Roberts (right) with his child Riley following today's sentencing hearing in Lawrence County Superior Court II
For the Roberts family it was long two-years to be able to face Cinamon who had a long history of driving while suspended while on drugs. The Roberts family hoping Cinnamon can turn his life around and be productive adult during their testimony.
Rusty Burnette gives Robbie Roberts a hug following the hearing in Lawrence County Superior Court II
Here is Robbie's statement made to William Cinamon in today's sentencing hearing.
" To start with my family, and friends are not here by choice for myself I would rather be working at my DOD job, but here we are. We are here because of your choice, your choice.
Choices, we are here today due to choices!
On July 11, 2020, you got up on a Saturday morning and the choices you made that day is why we are here today. Your choice, Your Choice, your choices which started on June 29, 2007. Looking at the public website (mnokigycase. ) at this public record website you started your choice of bad choices and disrespect towards the laws of Indiana in this Lawrence County Superior Court II on June 29, 2007. Arrested five times driving while suspended and now in this wreck, you are here again. Driving with your license suspended while on drugs. Your law-breaking history started around the age of 18, and still continues. In looking at this public record website you started your choice of bad choices and disrespect towards the laws of Indiana in this Lawrence County Superior Court II on June 29, 2007. Arrested five times driving while suspended and now in this wreck, you are here again. Driving with your license suspended while on drugs. Your law-breaking history started around the age of 18, and still conti) In looking at this public record website you started your choice of bad choices and disrespect towards the laws of Indiana in this Lawrence County Superior Court II on June 29, 2007. Arrested five times driving while suspended and now in this wreck, you are here again. Driving with your license suspended while on drugs. Your law-breaking history started around the age of 18, and still continues.
On July 11, 2020, you hit Josh and I going around 70 miles per hour, running a red light while driving while suspended on drugs. You very well could have killed Josh an I. My wife and Emily will be stating the injuries suffered by Josh and I that your choice caused, your choice.
I have no memory of the 50-60 days of my life from the wreck of July 11, 2020, none because of your choices.
Now a lot of things I used to do with my family I cannot do no more. No more playing kiddy games like "Hide or Seek" with my granddaughters (cause kids like to hide or seek under things like the bed. I can no longer get on my knees, bend down/ over or turn my head to look for them or play tag, or just plain chase them, because I can no longer run anymore. I can't ride horses, ride go -karts, ride the rides at Disney, Holiday World. Because my head is locked in place, and I can have no jerking motions because it will kill me. I cannot even throw a ball like I used to. Because of your choices.
Work around the home must be done by my wife, that I should be doing being the "Man of the House" but no more because of your choices.
Now, I have lost my CDL license because I cannot pass the CDL physical and for safety's sake I can drive anymore. Do you think that's fair? I do not by my choice, but caused by choices you made.
The cost in my wages working for the government as a DOD employee supporting our " War fighting soldiers of which I can no longer do, because now I am disabled. I have lost my monthly income in wages of which is not my choice, but caused by choices you made.
The amount of money you have cost my family or Josh who was obeying the laws of Indiana, and you disobeying those laws for I was a passenger in that car. You cost me thousands and thousands of dollars. My medical bills in the Multi Millions, yes Multi Millions of dollars. I've so far had to payout from our savings up to this point over $100,000 for payments due to this wreck and my insurance would like to have another $168,000 paid to them.
All this has been caused because of you, nobody but you and you have not paid one penny for the wreck you caused. Not one penny, not one penny not a one. Do you think this is right? You should have to pay for all of it, because of the choice you made.
From the day your choice caused this wreck until the day I die, I will always suffer from the injuries caused by your choice on July 11, 2020. The only part of my body that is not suffered injuries is my right arm and right hand. The rest of my body has been damaged. This by the choices made on July 11, 2020. Doctors told me due to all my injuries I will face more surgeries in upcoming years. More money I will have to spend because of your choices.
The injuries that my son has and will continue to face is all on you. The trauma on Josh, Emily, and their 2-year-old girl, for Emily was pregnant at the time of the wreck is on you. The emotional impact on my loving wife, mentally and physically is on you, my father who was 82 years of age at the time, and my brother it is on you.
There is a difference between being sorry or being remorseful. You said and shown neither to me nor my family. For the past two years, you went about your life as if nothing happened or changed. We have forever changed, as I will be doing therapy, the rest of life, because of your choices.
In closing I do not feel you will change your life, when you get out. Unless you give your heart and soul to Jesus Christ for which I hope and pray you do. However, with that said you have a open proven record since 2007 (almost 15 years ago) that you did not regard for the Laws of Indiana nor the lives that you have put at risk with the choices you made. This is all on you.
Joshua Roberts with his two-year-old daughter Riley following the hearing on Tuesday morning
Joshua Roberts who was the driver of the other vehicle that day, that Cinamon struck at the stoplight spoke during his testimony that his family has received a life sentence. This has cost our family over $4 million alone in medical expenses.
" This cost my two daughters, that will never be able to do things with their grandfather that most granddaughters get to do. All because you chose to have no license, under the influence of drugs, and never having any insurance. I hope prison is horrible for you, because that is what you deserve," Joshua Roberts said during the sentencing hearing.
Joshua Robert's wife Emily testified that the accident was a major life change for the family. This is a wreck and not an accident. This was not an accident because you chose to run the red light at 70 miles per hour, having drugs in your system, driving without insurance, and driving while never licensed.
Emily was six months pregnant with her daughter Riley, at the time of the accident, and due to the worry and stress about the situation their daughter has several delays, and the Phyicians and therapists have blamed that on the events surrounding the traffic accident.
" You have been given five weeks of freedom, what is the justice in that?" asked Emily.
Robbie Robert's wife Lisa testified the impact the accident has caused following the 35 years of their marriage. Lisa testified about the internal decapitation, spleen being removed, torn aorta, lacerations to his liver, collapsed lung, and more than 50 hours of surgery in six days.
Robbie Roberts was in the hospital for more than 140 days, and Lisa testifying that thanks to GOD this was not a double funeral for the family.
During the testimony of all the Robert's family Williams Cinamon did listen to all their testimony at times shaking his head yes, to acknowledge what they were saying. At times Cinamon showed tears and spoke directly to the Roberts family.
A traffic accident at Indiana State Road 37 at the Oolitic traffic light left Robbie and Joshua Roberts with serious injuries on July 11, 2022
" I did want and try to contact you and tell you I was very sorry. I was worried that you were not going to survive this accident, especially over the two days of not knowing whether you were going to make it. Under the advice of two public defenders, I was told that I could not contact you,"
The Roberts family is hoping to keep in contact with Cinamon while serving out his sentence.
Public defender Timothy Sledd told the Judge Sleva, " Today, we heard testimony of choices, forgiveness and of hope. We heard about the ultimate eternal consequences and that of consequences of earthly law. My client did not want to force a trial, and my client accepted the responsibility of his actions and face the consequences of that.
Judge Sleva, Special Judge into Tuesday's sentencing hearing says in all of his 31 years on the bench he has become barely speechless and not knowing what to say.
" I cannot imagine the pain and suffering by the family. The pain you all will endure forever and cannot imagine the strength you have shown to deal with the anger that only God can heal and protect you all in many ways. Not everyone has that strength. It's amazing that a positive can come out of evil. And even in bad circumstances there is some positives that can come out of this. The Roberts is wishing him a well and hoping Mr. Cinamon can turn his life around and be a better person. They actually care about you," In Judge Sleva's comments to William Cinamon in his final comments.
" It is amazing to not only hear and say someone has faith, but to actually see someone live it, this is something you do not see every single day," said Judge Sleva. " In courts we do not see a lot of happy stuff here,"
" I pray that God continue to Bless you all," Judge Sleva told the Roberts family in conclusion of the hearing.
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