A Warsaw man was sentenced Thursday for his involvement in a Feb. 22 three-car accident.
Donald "Lex" Dalton III, 58, Little Eagle Drive, Warsaw, was arrested Feb. 26 on one count of driving while intoxicated and one count of driving while intoxicated causing bodily injury with a bond of $10,000.
On Feb. 22, Dalton was driving his 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe at a high rate of speed when he rear-ended a 2006 Dodge Charger, driven by Fred L. Henderson, 54, Osceola.
Henderson's car then hit a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Rocco C. Spears, 38, Pierceton.
Henderson suffered a hip injury in the accident.
The damage estimate of the accident was between $50,000 and $100,000.
Dalton was sentenced Thursday for each charge separately.
On the count of driving while intoxicated causing bodily injury, which was bumped up from a Class D to a Class C felony due to a prior conviction, Dalton was sentenced to four years in jail with two years suspended.
On the count of driving while intoxicated, Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton sentenced Dalton to two years with one year suspended.
The sentences will be served consecutively.
Sutton said Dalton may be able to serve his two-year sentence in the work release program, but a decision on that hasn't been made yet. Dalton will have to meet certain criteria to be allowed into work release, said Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert.
Sutton gave Dalton credit for his involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous, but also reminded Dalton that his alcoholism will "be a daily battle."
Dalton's defense attorney, Scott J. Lennox, said Dalton has been sober for a number of months and feels remorseful of his actions.
Dalton did not speak on his own behalf during the sentencing.
Indiana State Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Fahl said that he and Lennox felt the plea agreement was a "reasonable compromise."
Dalton also will have to pay fines and courts fees, along with restitution to the victims.
Dalton is set to begin serving his sentence Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Dalton has an Oct. 30 court date set in Miami County for probation violation.
