William Hines, a teenager implicated in the death of Preston Lord, has been sentenced to prison time. In a report released by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Hines, born in November 2005, admitted to the manslaughter charge and received a 12-year sentence. This marks the initial judgment among Preston’s juvenile assailants; six others face charges linked to the tragedy.
Attending a Halloween party in Queen Creek back in October 2023, the scene of Preston’s demise unfolded after a street confrontation escalated. In an unfortunate succession of events, he succumbed to his injuries two days post-hospitalization, his death later classified as homicide resulting from blunt force trauma. While also standing trial for unrelated incidents, Hines is looking at a cumulative 17 years behind bars. In conjunction with the manslaughter sentencing, he faces an additional five years for a drunk driving crash, to be served consecutively.
“William Hines has shown us through not just one, but a series of acts, that he is unfit for society,” stated Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, lamenting the severe consequences of Hines’ recklessness and disregard for others. These incidents of violence include two separate group attacks in 2022, in Queen Creek and a Gilbert restaurant parking lot, and a grave car crash in 2023 while under the influence, which alone is met with a five-year sentence…