The Marshall County man who was shot by police nearly two years ago has been found guilty of attempted murder. The incident happened in the parking lot of the Plymouth Kmart on December 29, 2014. Police say they pulled over Lane Dodson for questioning about an earlier report of battery, when he reportedly raised a handgun and began shooting. The officers then opened fire, injuring Dodson.
WNDU-TV says the jury deliberated for about an hour and a half Friday, before returning with a guilty verdict on four counts: attempted murder, intimidation, and two counts of domestic battery. Dodson was, however, found not guilty of a charge of battery with moderate bodily injury, stemming from a fight with a Plymouth man around the same time, after Dodson’s attorney claimed it was self-defense.
Dodson has denied shooting the officers. But according to WNDU-TV, Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said there was clear evidence that he did, including a bullet hole and two shell casings found in his vehicle. Dodson’s attorney argued the shell casings could have been there before the incident.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 25. Chipman says the attempted murder charge has a maximum sentence of 60 years, but he expects Dodson’s total sentence to add up to about 65 years in prison.
