LAWRENCE COUNTY - MAY 23, 2023 - A competency hearing for Shawn Hayes has been scheduled for June 1, 2023, at 9:00 am in Lawrence County Superior Court I.
Photo: Shawn Hays Jury Trial is scheduled for June 21st at 8:30 am
Shawn Hays 53, Mitchell was formally charged with murder and eight other counts. Hays is being held in Lawrence County Jail and Judge John Plummer III denied Hays bond at this time.
The Indiana procedure for pretrial commitment of incompetent criminal defendants set forth in Ind.Ann.Stat. § 9—1706a provides that a trial judge with 'reasonable ground' to believe the defendant to be incompetent to stand trial must appoint two examining physicians and schedule a competency hearing, at which the defendant may introduce evidence.
The jury trial for Hays is set to begin on June 21, at 8:30 am.
PREVIOUS STORY DECEMBER 22, 2022 - The count of resisting law enforcement was dismissed at this time. This was due to issues with the charging information. That charge of resisting law enforcement; is expected to be refiled at a later time.
Murder - Sentence possible of 45-65 years, $10,000 fine
Reckless homicide - recklessly to kill another human being - Level 3 Felony - Sentence possible of 3-16 Years
Domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury - Level - 5 Felony - Sentence possible of 1-6 years on each Level 5 charges
Battery by means of deadly weapon - Level 5 Felony
Abuse of a corpse - Level 5 Felony
Criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon - Level 6 Felony
Pointing a firearm at another - Level 6 Felony
Obstruction of justice - other or damages or removes any record or document - Level 6 Felony
Hays appeared before Judge John Plummer III in Lawrence County Superior Court I, under heavy security. Hays was able to understand all the court proceedings and answer questions of Judge Plummer III.
Lawrence County Public Defender Tim Sledd also asked that Rodney Hays, be removed from the witness list due to being deceased. The Lawrence County Deputy Prosecutor's Justin Grant and Robert Garrett did not object for Rodney Hays being removed from the witness list.
Lawrence County Deputy Prosecutor Justin Grant and Robert Garrett will be representing the state, Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp II observed today's proceedings and was in the courtroom. Hays is being represented by Lawrence County Chief Prosecutor Tim Sledd and Daniel Dixon at this time. However, Hays may seek private counsel at a later date.
An omnibus court date and pre-trial hearing have been scheduled on February 27th with a jury trial expected start on June 21, 2023.
Shawn Hays is accused of murdering Rodney E. Hays, 73, 558 Easy Street, Mitchell, Indiana on or about December 20, 2022.
Lawrnce County Sheriff Deputies found Rodney Hays deceased in front of his residence with a gunshot wound to his head and chest.
Rodney Hays body was found mutilated and partially dismembered.
Shawn Hays admitted to shooting, mutilating, and partially dismembering the robot who looked like his father according to a press release by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department.
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