RENO COUNTY — The Kansas who entered guilty pleas to three counts of aggravated battery and one count of vehicular homicide for crash that killed a 15-year-old passenger was granted three years probation Friday.

Dawson Lehman, 21, Hutchinson, had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the state dropped that count as part of the plea agreement.

Before sentencing, the defense noted that Lehman has been receiving treatment for his mental health. He has been suffering from depression since the incident. The defense argued that treatment would be more effective than prison.

Lehman was the driver in a rollover accident on June 24, 2015.

The Reno County Sheriff’s office reported the pickup driven by Lehman was westbound on 43rd Avenue from Rayl Road east of Hutchinson. He lost control of the vehicle. It traveled into the ditch and rolled.

First responders found two occupants lying in the road.
Aaron Powers and Dalton Stoecklein, both 15, were flown to a Wichita hospital for treatment.

Both suffered head injuries and had not been wearing seat belts according to the sheriff’s office. Powers died four days later.

Lehman and two other teens suffered minor injuries.

Judge Trish Rose ordered that Lehman not drive a car at all as part of his community corrections. Rose said she granted the request for the non-prison sanction because both sides in the case recommended it.