Shinost sentenced to 6-8 years

Monday, in Hot Springs County District Court, it was a packed room — physically, and emotionally — for the sentencing of Cody Shinost, who was found guilty in February on a count of aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol and two counts of control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol resulting in serious bodily injury. The charges are the result of a May 2014 vehicle rollover accident that claimed the life of Madisen Price, left her sister Delanie in a months-long coma with severe head trauma and caused severe injuries to Dylan Balstad. Judge Robert E. Skar sentenced Shinost to six to eight years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary on the aggravated assault. He further sentenced Shinost to four to six years on each of count of control of a vehicle while under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury; those two sentences, however, will be suspended and Shinost was sentenced to 10 years supervised probation on each, consecutively, for a total 20 years probation following the end of the first prison term. Judge Skar noted the prison sentence means Shinost is eligible for the intensive treatment program at the penitentiary; should he choose not to do the program, he is required to do outpatient treatment. Shinost was also ordered to serve 400 hours of community service. Shinost was also fined $2,000 on each count, though the fines are suspended to ensure his money first goes to restitution of $27,922.02. With regard to the death of Madisen, Wyoming Division of Victim Services paid out compensation of $3,728.22, which was 50 percent of food, mileage, travel and funeral expenses incurred. The family has expense in the same amount, so the total is $7,456.44. With regard to Delanie, compensation of $10,085.29 was paid by Victim Services for food, travel, hospital care and home renovations to accommodate her; again, this is half of the expenses incurred, with the family handling the remainder, for a total $20,170.58. An additional $295 was noted for other injuries from the accident. Judge Skar said, in determining sentence, he took into account letters in support of Shinost, his efforts to better himself and the impact on the town. The judge noted tragic incidents involving drunk driving seem to happen every three to four years, but that does not mitigate the seriousness of the crimes. Prior to the passing of Shinost’s sentence, victim impact statements were given. Delanie and Madisen’s uncle, Michael Dreher, said “This is not the first time Shinost has driven while drunk, but it is the first to my knowledge where he took the life of one person and critically injured another.” Dreher noted up to this point Shinost refused to acknowledge the victims and their family, and the damage he directly caused, and his lies before and during his trial show a lack of maturity and personal responsibility. Had the incident not happened, he said, Delanie would’ve walked across a stage and received a diploma rather than spend months in a coma and then learn to again walk, speak and even cry. “Every moment of every day and night, for the rest of her life,” Dreher said, “Delanie will carry the mental and physical scars of that May night two yeas ago.” As for Madisen, he said, nobody will get to see her make 1,000 good choices, and the girls’ mother will never hear her recite wedding vows nor hold her grandchildren. Dreher said the positive changes Shinost has made in his life since the incident are a sham, and do not grant him an automatic do-over. Speaking from a religious aspect, he said Father God says to forgive; Dreher said he forgives Shinost, but it is now time for him to pay for what he did. Khris Price, mother of the two girls, said they wouldn’t be there if Shinost had made the call. Instead, she said, he continued lying until just a few weeks before the trial and his actions broke their family because he cared more about himself. Price said she doesn’t care if Shinost has had a job over the past two years. “Maddie can’t do anything. She’s gone. You took that away . . . I know two years is a long time ago, but it’s so fresh in our hearts and I can’t forgive you.” Parke Price, the girls’ father, reiterated what his wife said, noting Shinost was more concerned about covering his tracks. Had he made a call, Parke said, perhaps things might have turned out differently. Instead, Delanie laid out there for 45 minutes before another couple came across the accident. Though difficult to understand, Delanie spoke to Shinost, saying “You ruined my life” and “I really hate you” among her comments. Shinost said in the past two years there isn’t a day that goes by where he doesn’t think about what he did. He further added all four of the people involved were once friends, all four made the decision to go out that night and he regrets choosing to go. Over time, he said, he has been doing everything he can to better himself. Working with outreach kids, he said, has helped him learn patience, kindness and understanding, and he wants to continue educating kids on the dangers of drinking and driving. He asked his positive life choices be taken into consideration. Though he can’t take back his actions, Shinost wants to strive to be a pillar in the community. He understands why the Price family is upset with him, “because they do not know the whole truth,” he said. Hot Springs County Attorney Jerry Williams said this case is a difficult one. While he expected people to speak on Shinost’s good points, he noted it’s his job to speak about the other side. To that end, he pointed out Shinost’s choice to let Delanie lie in a ditch rather than call for help despite having a cell phone, his not mentioning the two girls when rescue workers arrived, his taking a swing at a nurse and the necessity for restraints to work on him, because he was too violent. Williams also pointed out Shinost’s blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit even an hour after the crash. Williams noted Shinost’s age, but stressed his actions took one girl’s life and left another “smashed and broken.” Madisen was young and full of life, he said, and Delanie was a gifted athlete who is now in a wheelchair and can’t attend to simple life functions without help. Opportunities for her life, he said, were “stolen by a drunk driver.” Williams further noted impact on the family, including $1.5 million in medical expenses, caring for a daughter who hung between life and death for several months and now having to help that daughter with even simple tasks. With regard to the accident, Williams pointed out Shinost had the presence of mind to exit the driver’s side of the vehicle and get in the passenger’s side. Further, he said, evidence showed he rearranged Madisen’s body, and he never checked on Delanie and never apologized or took responsibility. Shinost chose the path of drinking and driving, Williams said, “and that path, on May 14, 2014, led to death and destruction.” Defense Attorney Richard Hopkinson called Justine Materi to the stand. Materi said she has known Shinost for over four years, and been in a relationship with him for over two. During her testimony, Materi said she noticed a change in Shinost after the accident, pointing out he was always a good person, but since has tried to turn his life around, found Christ, saw a counselor, volunteered in the community and has not drank or done drugs. She also noted he seemed to struggle a bit with the accident, and he feels remorse and wishes he could take back his actions. Hopkinson said the accident is no doubt a terrible tragedy, but one that’s seen time and again. Young people decide they want to celebrate so they go out and drink, and then some choose to drive. Despite being shown the dangers of drinking and driving, he said, people still do it. Shinost is definitely remorseful, Hopkinson said, and would do anything to take back what he did. Since the incident, Hopkinson said, Shinost has received commendations during his work with Northwest Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services helping youth, and worked to improve his life and others. Hopkinson also shared a letter written by a juror, who noted while Shinost chose to drive drunk, he is not solely responsible as the other people also willingly drank and chose to ride in the car and not wear their seat belts. Not only is this incident an opportunity to learn the dangers of drinking and driving, he said, but also safety as a passenger in a vehicle. Shinost was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing. He was booked into the Hot Springs County Jail where he will remain until he is transferred to the Wyoming State Penitentiary.