Equal Justice?

[Pekka]

He'll be out in 5, that's the maximum he'll have to do. Seriously, I'm not joking.

I agree, the society really is sick.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Pekka
Hmhh, that is extremely heavy penalty what is deep down an accident.

We don't have the full story. We do know he crossed the center line, leading to a head on collision, but what caused him to cross the center line may be what led to the long sentance.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
We don't have the full story. We do know he crossed the center line, leading to a head on collision, but what caused him to cross the center line may be what led to the long sentance.

Also, the walking away and passing out strikes me that he was severely drunk. If as such, would be something similar here, penalty wise. Causing death by dangerous driving carries a pretty harsh penalty.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Drogue
Also, the walking away and passing out strikes me that he was severely drunk. If as such, would be something similar here, penalty wise. Causing death by dangerous driving carries a pretty harsh penalty.

Given the prevalance of accidents related to alcohol intake, I don't think an article would fail to mention that important fact were it the case.

[Jon Miller]

Maybe there were other considerations. Like past incidences of automobile misuse.

JM

[DinoDoc]

Maybe it's the fact he left the ****ing scene of the accident.

[snoopy369]

Leaving the scene of the accident certainly encouraged the judge to give the maximum sentence. In cases like involuntary manslaughter (or vehicular manslaughter, in states where that is a separate charge), there is usually a large degree of freedom for the judge in setting the penalty.

There is also the possibility of 'aggravated' tacking on extra years, which would be the case if he were drunk and it were vehicular manslaughter in many states. Also leaving the scene may have automatically aggravated it (although it looks like there were 4 years in a separate charge - but I think you can still count it as an aggravating element while charging it separately).

It's also possible he has prior felony convictions, those add a LOT to the jail time. Those usually wouldn't be mentioned to the press unless they were relevant, but many of the folks my mother puts in jail get a lot more jail time from their priors than from the charge they were convicted of.

I'm shocked frankly that they didn't charge those kids as adults, though perhaps their state didn't permit it. At least the 16 year olds. First degree (premeditated) murder, to me, is an adult charge for anyone who's of age to be legally charged in that manner... the problem with juvie is that often people who go to juvie come out MORE likely to continue in a criminal path, particularly with first time offenders convicted of a long-term juvie crime, as they're thereby forbidden from college etc. where they might have matured and grown out of their criminal ways. Instead we put them in an area with tons of other criminals who are certain future recidivists...

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Aeson
15 years for involuntary manslaughter, 4 years for leaving the scene of the accident

< 7 1/2 years in juvenile corrections for murder

It's their youth. The 17-year-old who was tried as an adult got Life +.

[Aeson]

Of course it's their age.

Though that's even more silly. Being born a few months (or even days hypothetically) earlier/later can mean the difference between a few years in juvy, or the rest of your life in the state pen.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Maybe it's the fact he left the ****ing scene of the accident.

Yes, but he returned, voluntarily, and still received four years for it. That really dosen't sit well with me.

[Dinner]

I agree with Mad Monk.

[chequita guevara]

Sits fine with me.

[DinoDoc]

Me too.

[The Mad Monk]

If the penalty is that severe even if you come back in a few hours, what is the point in coming back at all? People do panic, get disoriented, etc. Where's the impetus to let their better nature resume control?

[DinoDoc]

4 years isn't that severe, TMM. He still committed a criminal act by leaving. I just hope the sentence is consecutive rather than concurrent.