'Dead' felon sentenced to four years

The last time Shawnda K. Hatfield was scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on a forgery conviction, a newspaper obituary announced her unexpected death and cremation.

On Thursday, however, the 41-year-old Dunkirk woman was alive - if not especially well - when she was sentenced to four years in prison by Delaware Circuit Court 3 Judge Robert Barnet Jr.

Hatfield maintained she did not have a clue as to how or why her death notice was published in The Star Press on Aug. 30.



That was the day she was originally scheduled to be sentenced by Barnet.

Deputy Prosecutor Joe Orick also noted that Hatfield at one point informed the court that her son was in Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, dying from leukemia, when he was actually attending school in Dunkirk.

"She is attempting to commit fraud on this court," said Orick, promising to investigate allegations Hatfield's relatives were involved in efforts to stage her death to help her avoid sentencing. If charges are warranted, Orick promised Hatfield, "You can have a family reunion upstairs (in the county jail)."