Man sentenced in Jackson Co. slaying of Washington Co. man

By: 
Staff Writer Kate Wehlann

Dustin Robbins, 35, was killed two years ago when he and his wife, Angela, went to help his mother escape an abusive situation. He and his mother's boyfriend, Darrell Stanton, got in an altercation and Stanton shot Robbins in the abdomen with a shotgun. Stanton was sentenced to 10 years with the IN Department of Corrections late last month.

On March 28, 2019, Darrell E. Stanton, now 58, pled guilty to counts of reckless homicide and intimidation in the slaying of Dustin Robbins. Stanton was sentenced on April 26, 2019, to five years each for the two counts, to be served consecutively. He has received credit for the 751 days he’s spent in jail and 250 days of good-time credit for time already served.

In April 2017, Dustin, who was living in Salem at the time, went to Stanton’s home to help his mother, Stanton’s girlfriend, an abusive situation, said Dustin’s wife, Angela. Angela has since moved from the area.

According to an Indiana State Police report, an altercation occurred when Stanton found Dustin and Angela at his home. According to the report, he threatened the Robbinses with a shotgun. The men struggled and Dustin was shot in the abdomen.

Stanton was arrested and Dustin later died at Schneck Medical Center.

“[Dustin] was a fun person, a fun-loving person,” said Angela. “He cared about his family a great deal. He wouldn’t have been in this situation, helping his mother, if he didn’t. The kids in our family and our friends’ kids loved him.”

She said Dustin was a heavy equipment operator and worked for the Hanson quarry in Sellersburg at the time of his death. He loved to play guitar.

“He was a good person,” said Angela. “He’d help anyone with anything … My family adored him. He was a good friend to my brothers and dad. It’s been traumatic for a lot of my family.”

She said she hopes Stanton can get the help he needs through addiction or other counseling while he's incarcerated.

“It’s hard for me to think about it,” she said. “I wish these circumstances hadn’t been necessary for him to get help. I hate that things had to be the way they were … I wish none of this had ever happened, but I hope something good will come out of this.”

 

You can read more about the sentencing and more of what Angela Robbins had to say in Monday's Salem Leader.

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