PROSPERITY — A weekend altercation between two men left one of them dead and the other charged with voluntary manslaughter, according to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.

Allen Benjamin Osheilds, 42, of 4983 Bethel Church Road in Prosperity, turned himself in Wednesday morning at the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $30,000. He posted bond late Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office:

Newberry County EMS responded to a residence on Williams Wood Drive in Prosperity at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 and found William Bart Hazen, 40, of 315 Brown St. in Prosperity, unconscious on the ground. Law enforcement was not contacted and did not respond to the scene.

Hazen was taken to Palmetto Richland Hospital for treatment of his injuries but died on Nov. 7 as a result of those injuries.

When Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton was contacted by the hospital to get an order for the donation of organs from Hazen, Newton recognized that the injuries were inconsistent with just a fall. He then contacted the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office so they could investigate the death.

Although the incident occurred within the Town of Prosperity, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation because of the training and expertise in handling such cases and because no Prosperity officer was available.

It was determined that Hazen and Oshields were acquaintances who were at cookout at a mutual friend’s home. Both had been drinking during the day.

An argument between the two turned physical and Oshields struck Hazen in the face, causing him to fall backward onto a concrete pad. Hazen suffered a skull fracture and had bleeding into the brain, which ultimately resulted in his death.

Investigators met with prosecutors from the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office who determined that voluntary manslaughter charges should be filed.

Allen Benjamin Osheilds, 42, of 4983 Bethel Church Road in Prosperity, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of another man. Oshields turned himself in Wednesday morning at the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $30,000. He posted bond late Wednesday afternoon.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_allenbenjaminoshieldsMUG-1.jpegAllen Benjamin Osheilds, 42, of 4983 Bethel Church Road in Prosperity, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of another man. Oshields turned himself in Wednesday morning at the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $30,000. He posted bond late Wednesday afternoon.

Staff Report