BLOOMINGTON— A Bloomington woman was sentenced to prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed a father and seriously injured his child in 2022.
Charity Hall, 34, was sentenced on two felony charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, a Level 4 felony, and OWI causing serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony.
Monroe Circuit Court 5 Judge Mary Ellen Diekhoff handed down a 15-year sentence: 10 years for the Level 5 felony and 5 years for the Level 4 felony. The sentences will be served consecutively, but Hall was credited with 827 days of time served, as she has been in jail since her arrest following the crash.
Hall will remain incarcerated until February 2036. The seven charges, including reckless homicide and resisting arrest, were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
The crash occurred on August 6, 2022, at State Road 46 and State Road 37. According to court documents, Hall ran a red light and collided with a pickup truck driven by 33-year-old Richard Compion, who was killed in the crash. Compion’s 5-year-old son, who was in the vehicle at the time, sustained severe injuries but survived.
When police arrived at the scene, they observed Hall exhibiting signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, poor balance, and aggressive behavior. Officers reported that Hall became combative with them and hospital staff, spitting on nurses and kicking an officer in the chest. A blood test later revealed Hall had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.184, more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. Additionally, Hall tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both prosecutors and victims’ families have condemned Hall’s actions, as the tragic event highlights the dangers of impaired driving. In handing down the sentence, the judge noted the severity of Hall’s actions and the lasting consequences on the victims involved.
