Published: May 21, 2009 08:23 pm      

Dodge sentenced to 9 years for shooting death

ORANGE — Jacob Cody Dodge, 19, was sentenced to nine years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the shooting death of 18-year-old Brandon “Scott” Covington. He will have to serve at least half of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.

The charges stem from an incident when Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called on Sept. 15, 2007 to 9366 Cajun Way in Orangefield. When emergency personnel arrived they found Covington dead at the scene with an apparent bullet wound to his chest.

Dodge was found guilty Wednesday morning of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the 128th District Court with Judge Pat Clark presiding. Following a lunch break the punishment phase began and continued throughout the afternoon. Thursday morning attorneys began their closing arguments before the case was sent to jurors to begin deliberation.

Orange County assistant district attorney, Kelly James, said Dodge has a pattern of criminal conduct and a total disregard for life.

“The facts alone do not justify probation,” James said as she asked jurors to consider the maximum of 20 years in prison.

James continued by telling the jury that Dodge on the witness stand changed his story many times to fit the testimony.

“Even on the witness stand, he is still not telling everything that happened that night,” James said.

She added, the father of Scott Covington, Bruce Covington will never know what the final moments of his son’s life was like.

“The only person who will ever know is the defendant,” James said.

To which, Dodge replied, “exactly.”

The question she asked jurors to consider, is “When will Jacob Dodge be stopped?”

Defense attorney, James Makin, told the jury following his mother’s death, Dodge practically raised himself.

“He became a punk,” Makin said.

Makin did not deny Dodge needed to be punished.

“He made some bad choices, yes, and now he has to answer to this,” he said.“ He is a young man who has never had any guidance. He is who he is.”

After more than four hours of deliberating, the verdict was in.

While the verdict was read, Dodge looked straight ahead.

“I have to take what the jury gave him,” said Bruce Covington. “Eight hundred years or eight days will not bring Scott back. To me it is just not enough.”

Bruce Covington added, no matter what he will still continue to visit his son at the cemetery.

Dodge still faces charges of the intoxication manslaughter of Dustin Ousley. Dodge was driving a 2000 Ford Expedition when he was lost control while driving at a high rate of speed on Sept. 30, 2007 in the 1800 block of South Lutcher Drive and crashed into a tree. As a result, Ousley was killed at the scene, according to reports from the Orange Police Department.

He will also still have to face charges of aggravated assault on Brian Mouton. The pair had gotten into an altercation following an argument at a residence. Dodge cut Mouton with a knife on his right cheek area.

“Sorry is not enough to convene the sorrow that our family feels for the families of Scott Covington and Dustin Ousley. There are not words strong enough to let those families know how tragic and horrendous this ordeal has been. He does not view himself as the victim in all of this and has never shirked the responsibility of that night. If he had the power he would trade places with those boys and if I had the power I would do the same.”



Debby Schamber is a reporter for the Orange Leader. She can be reached at 409-883-3571 ext. 2603 or at dschamber@orangeleader.com.