Sentence Passed

Literally. Remember the guy I wrote about here some months ago that ran his Maserati thru a house and killed a man? Estimated he was going 85+mph in a 35 speed zone after leaving a wedding reception. It took forever for charges to be filed, no sobriety tests were administered by the Troopers, but the solicitor finally, weeks later, charged him with murder after loud outcry from the public. Well, he lawyered up with a former judge/hero lawyer. Pleaded it down to manslaughter on a guilty plea. Solicitor says he expected a 10-year sentence. Okay so far? Well, court was held this week for the case. He pleaded guilty. His insurance companies (auto and umbrella carriers) had settled $3million on the man's estate. It was pointed out the guy had over 20 violations since 1992, most for speeding. The judge cited the fact that the man has supported many local charities in the past. He got (drum roll) 3 years probation, 500 hours public service... I guess the old saying is true, you know, the one that says "Money talks and shit walks."

Another failure of the justice system :X

He Can still drive??????

I mean absolutely no offense at all Jack, but I'm wondering if there isn't more to the story. I only worked as a prosecutor for two years (yep, now I try to be a hero defense attorney), but I've never met the prosecutor that didn't try to serve justice. I'm sure there are exceptions, maybe you have one in this case. Yes, there are cases of too-lenient plea bargaining, but usually it's because the prosecutor knows he/she has a problem with their case. The public doesn't always want to recognize it, but it's a REALLY hard thing to prove someone's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury of twelve people. And, I think jurors are more cynical and less trusting of law enforcement than they used to be. It all factors into these kind of cases. Take this board for example; can you convince twelve people of anything?

All said, sounds like a miscarriage of justice for someone to take another person's life and walk away with that sentence.

I think he deserved a break.


Preferably at the knee.....both knees.

Just unreal.

Sounds like your justice system can be just as bad as ours.

I had no problem with the plea to reduce from murder to manslaughter, and I think that was appropriate on the part of the solicitor. What has much of the county in outrage is the sentence the judge passed. The solicitor says he was caught off guard by that, that he expected jail time, but my take is that the good ol' boy system has worked well - for the good ol' boys, that is. And I think that's the popular conception. What's not spoken of much is what may have gone on behind closed doors. The defense attorney is a former federal judge. The judge for the case stated his reason for a lax sentence was the man's support of local charity before the accident. Now, If I'm poor and can't support charity, does that mean I go to jail in similar circumstances? Sounds like it to me. The solicitor has asked the judge to reconsider the sentence and give the man jail time. PS - the perpetrator had other charges against him besides the traffic (domestic abuse, peace warrant, I thin k they call it to keep him away from estranged wife), and he was on probation at the time all this happened. Hell, I'm an not a lawyer and I think I could've gotten a conviction on manslaughter....

Disappointed.