Nowata families angered by bond amount for deadly crash


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Reported by: Adam Paluka
Updated: 1/26/2012 11:46 am Published: 1/25/2012 9:12 pm


Two Nowata County families are furious tonight after a judge set’s what they call a “ridiculously low” bond for the woman accused of being drunk behind the wheel of a truck that crashed.

That crash killed Dalton Lawson and Daniel Hathcoat in November, but charges were only filed days ago because prosecutors needed to get blood work back.
 
At a bond hearing Monday, Autumn Parrish, who is charged with two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene of an Accident, received a bond of $2,500 from Nowata County Judge Carl Gibson.
 
“There (were) other cases, like breaking and entering and they were getting higher bonds than her. Everyone was surprised when the judge came back with a $2,500 bond for her,” Mary Lawson, Dalton’s mom, told FOX23 Wednesday.
 
Daniel's family is just as upset.
 
“$2,500 on two manslaughter charges involving alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident where two people died,” Dwayne Hathcoat said.
 
He was so mad that when he heard the judge say that number, “I stood up and I said, ‘Jesus Christ,’ and I walked out of the courtroom.
 
The families expected bond to be set between $50,000 and $150,000. Parrish's attorney, who told FOX23 he was not comfortable, commenting on this story, told the judge his client was not a flight risk.
 
“This girl owns no property here. She (doesn’t) own a car. She doesn't have any children. She (doesn’t) have any reason to be here except to face these charges,” Hathcoat said.
 
“They're saying that she's not a flight risk, but she left the scene of an accident,” Mary Lawson said.
 
FOX23 attempted to talk to Judge Gibson about the family’s anger, but the judge did not take out call. The District Attorney for Nowata County says he believes the bond for Parrish should be higher, but that decision rests solely with the judge.
 
“It worries me a lot,” Mary said. “I am thinking, if she just got off with $2,500 dollars who's to say she's not going to walk?”
 
Both families will wait for Parrish’s next court date on March 5
th.
 
“My motto is, ‘Justice for Daniel and Dalton,’ I am not worried about what's going to happen to Autumn right now,” Lawson said. She also told FOX23 she is so appalled the bond amount the judge set that she has contacted Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of KOKI FOX23 - Tulsa

a parent - 3/11/2012 5:12 AM
0 Votes
As the designated driver, she should be held accountable for what she done. Them boys were depending on her to get them home.

Bleeding Heart - 2/12/2012 9:10 PM
1 Vote
Oh, and BTW, I lived on those dirt roads my whole life, drove a little pick up for awhile too, if you actually know how to drive on them, you can go a whole lot faster than 25 miles per hour. You just obviously just like making excuses and pointing the blame at something else too. Hmmm, keep on thinking.

Bleeding Heart - 2/12/2012 9:03 PM
1 Vote
Ok, Just Thinking, since your wanting to give different perspectives, let's take the drinking out of the equation altogether. If someone speeding on the highway wrecks and kills another person,and flees the scene, do you really think they are going to get a $2,500 bond? Now, this article is about the bond being so low that it outraged the families. So, you still would feel that was an appropriate amount? As for all the speculation, if you live in Nowata, it's hard to cipher through the bull crap to get the real story, but yes everyone that had a part in the events that lead up to that accident should be accountable, also though accusing the adult family member, where you there? Where's you're supporting evidence? Now as for the blame, the families blame her because she was driving. That is a fact not a speculation or rumor. When she got behind the wheel, she took the responsibility of four passengers' lives. Her actions had horrible consequences that effected the entire community. That group all broke laws and should be punished for their crimes. Now that Gibson has show a extreme leniency on her bond and the upper hand knowledge of previous and current corruption in Nowata, you really don't think people should be suspicious? Now as for the speculation on Autumn's behavior, post wreck, unless you're Autumn, you wouldn't know, as I wouldn't either. I do trust in actual witness statements, not hearsay, so maybe you'd like to step back and re-think that. Now you unbelievable audacity to presume what Dalton and Daniel would be saying is appalling and I respectfully advise you to watch your tongue. They have a beautiful strong and wonderful memory, but it is a disgrace to their memory when the person responsible to their lives being cut short only has to pay $250 to be free until a verdict comes in. You know, in Heaven, they probably aren't even paying attention to what's going on, but since you are obviously religious, you should know right from wrong. So why don"t you?

a parent - 2/4/2012 7:34 PM
1 Vote
I believe the reason the families were so upset at the low bond amount is because it does not "fit" the charges of 1ST DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER - 2 COUNTS AND LEAVING THE SCENE OF A FATALITY ACCIDENT. the girl didnt seem to comprehend what she done,, once she does, she may flee, much like she did at the crash when she realized she might be accountable. As for Carl Gibson and his qualifications check out the web site "the robing room" he is rated 7th from the bottom out of more than 200 Oklahoma judges. If anything good is to come from this then all the facts must be considered fairly and the law must be upheld without questionable service.

Just Thinking - 2/4/2012 3:50 PM
0 Votes
I had a lot of spelling mistakes in that I know but was trying to get everything in. Sorry it is not perfect. The Adult family member who let them drink at his house and even gave the underage boys the alchohol should be very proud of himself and hope that he escapes justice also. I think he should also be charged with manslaughter and providing alchohol to minors and letting alchohol drinking young ones to leave his house. If he would have stopped them then this would not have happened. I hold him fully accountable for this accident even happening. You know who you are and you know you are to blame for those deaths as much as that young girl. So play it off and cry like a baby for justice for those young mens life but know that you to are to blame. The Lord knows this so you are not getting off scot free.

Just Thinking - 2/4/2012 3:29 PM
0 Votes
Mama Kat says it is an outrage! Hmmmm, outraged about what, that they all were party people and even underage partying, Wow not that is an outrage. Get real I have been reading comments and it just baffles me that the only thing that concerns some people is the Bond being so Low and that it is a discrace to Dalton and Daniel. It is not a discrace to them, their memory is better than that, why don't you just grieve like you should be and think how they would have thought "Man what is everyone turning on our friend? I wish their parents could talk to them, I know it was a violent death for both, but the Lord called them home and no one knows why. Some of the boys family say she was dancing in the store, that is rediculus statement. Because you go in a store doesn't mean your happy and your life is a picnic.If one of the boys had been driving and two of the kids were killed you would not react the same way, then it would just be an accident and those parents may or may not fell the way these parents feel. Again I pray for the parents to have some relief and that the Lord give them comfort. No one knows what it is like to lose a child except someone who has lost one, the pain is unbearable but anger is not the issue and blaming someone is not the answer. Some day you will have to come to the conclusion that your children had blame the night of the accident. Drive that road as fast as you can and see how fast you can drive without the washboard road starts sending you bouncing around easily to lose control. At 25 mph my little truck my truck wanted to fish tale. I didn't have to drink to get those results, so try it see how fast a person could really drive. Maybe you could gain a little insight to the situatio. I am not letting the girl off scott free but there is blame all around and if what I hear is true about a close family member letting them drink at his home (no I won't say who)then let them drive off with no concern for safety at all. He will have to live with hi

Bleeding Heart - 2/3/2012 1:56 PM
0 Votes
Since the original page was deleted by "PissedOff" I made a new one. http://www.facebook.com/Fair.Shake.11.02.12 We need public support, so please take 1 minute out of your day to at least like this page, if you can share it with everyone you can.

Mama Kat - 2/3/2012 12:35 PM
1 Vote
Autumn got a ticket for leaving the scene of a fatality. She is a flight risk. Who knows what will happen closer to each court hearing. She already freaked out the night of the wreck. Who is to say she won't freak out and leave the state this time. It's not like she doesn't have family in a different state.

Just Thinking - 2/2/2012 9:54 PM
0 Votes
Responsibility???? What is wrong with you people?? They were all young, evidently all drinking, all were partying that did not start near where it ended. All of them were old enough to make good decisions and not one of them did, period. It was just a bond hearing not her punishment, maybe if you think about it the court was right, no flight risk, came to court to take care of her reponsibility. Anyone consider that it is a crime for a kid underage to drink, but they still did it. I know they lost their lives and it is a shame that we lose any youth from our community and their families are in shock, angry, confused, needing someone to blame well she was their friend and a very good friend and I don't think that was the first time they had that experience together, it just came out differently than it had before. I pray that all of the families can come to terms with this devistation and seek out the Lord for he is your answer, follow him and you shall learn to deal with this tradgedy, not forget. Do something in the boys memory, something that counts and will maybe help a teen before they get to the point of drinking and driving. Remember the Bond means nothing only they did not consider her a flight risk since her family is here. No she owns no property but she did come back and she is not going anywhere. Give the world a break and do something for the good not hate a young lady who may have left the scene but did try to get her friends out and was in shock herself went to get help. Could you stand there and watch your friends die? No one knows till they are in that situation. This case has nothing to do with corruption of Nowata County, Judge Gibson, or the Sheriffs Dept. And for some of you who think the girl has political connections, think again and do some checking. To the parents I am very sorry for your loss and do not mean to upset you, you have enough going on. You know that if the girl came to any of you in the family, you would just hate on her.

Bleeding Heart - 1/27/2012 11:19 PM
0 Votes
This is an outrage! This is disrespectful to the memory of Dalton and Daniel! Parish is 21, supposedly the age to be responsible enough to make educated decisions. This woman is known for her wreck-less behavior in Nowata, in fact, I know that she is still out partying, enjoying herself. She was drinking and knowingly got behind the wheel and was speeding on a loose gravel road which killed 2 people and injured 2 others. Fled the scene of the accident and was caught miles away on someones doorstep "trying to get help" when the crash site has 3 houses on the north side of the road and 2 houses on the south side, within a few hundred yards! There shouldn't have been a bound! Involuntary or not, manslaughter is manslaughter! As stated previously, she left the scene of a crime! If she doesn't show to court, Judge Gibson should be held responsible and have to face ,the families and explain his decision of giving her bond in the first place and why it was set so unreasonably low. If he truly felt that he should give her a bond why not set it to the appropriate amount of at least 50,000 or more! I have always know that Nowata County is corrupt, but this is absurd! Why in the hell is the oh so "honorable" Judge Gibson even presiding on this case or any case?!?! He and the sheriff were investigated and were charged for numerous offenses! This just proves that no one gives a damn what happens to the citizens of Nowata and other small towns that have true corruption in their law enforcement! This is ridiculous and I cannot believe that NO ONE will do anything! Yeah, sure we can ask for help, we can call whom ever we want and write to whom ever, but we need action now! For the officials who never help, we are voters too! Get off your lazy asses and do something about it! If we had honest law enforcers in Nowata it would be a better place and things like this wouldn't happen! Wake up Attorney General, Governor, Senator. Your people need you! These are facts, not opinions!
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