About Damn Time

[snogged]

Last summer, one of my professors was killed in a car accident by a 19 year old girl who had been intoxicated. This week they had the sentencing hearing where we finally got results.

This is the contents of the article from the Wisconsin State Journal
A Mount Horeb woman was sentenced to four years in prison today for a drunken driving crash that killed a UW-Whitewater professor last summer.

Samantha J. Young, 20, was driving at speeds estimated between 80 and 120 mph on June 27 on Interstate 39-90 when she crashed into the rear of a car driven by Paula B. Poorman, 56, of Madison.

Prosecutors asked for a 10-year prison term for Young, while Young's attorney, Helene Zinberg, asked that Young be placed on probation for 10 years and serve part of that time in the Dane County Jail.

But Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan said the crash was too serious and the loss to Poorman's family and the UW-Whitewater community too devastating for him to consider placing Young on probation.

In addition to the prison sentence, Young will be on extended supervision for 10 years after her release from prison.

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Four years is a pitiful sentence. Did someone force her at gunpoint to get drunk and then drive? Unless they did, it would be more fitting to sentence her to 15 years to life.


Gabrielle

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Not that I'm aware of.

I agree 15 years would have been better. Or a few life sentences.

[tonya-x-nicole.livejournal.com]

good! i'm happy that she will have to pay for her crime!

[snogged.livejournal.com]

me too

[purpledodah.livejournal.com]

Justice at last. It seems a bit lenient though

[snogged.livejournal.com]

It really does. But at least, she didn't get a slap on the wrist.

[billysgirl5.livejournal.com]

It's sad to hear that happened, but I'm glad that the family will get some justice. People need to understand that there are consequences to actions, and when you drink and drive, chances are something bad will happen. The girl, Samantha, chose to drive and drive, and as a result, someone died. It's time for her to face the music. I really hate seeing all these people getting off with probation or a year or two in prison because of situations like this. I really hate it when the people are young. I work for a police department, and before that, a court. So many young people are getting away with slaps on the wrists, community service, and a small fine. Hit them hard while they are young in hopes of preventing something like this from happening, because in most cases, the drunk driver receives little or no injuries, while the others are seriously injured or killed. It drives me fucking insane!

[not-purrrfect.livejournal.com]

Lawmakers need to get a grip and serve more stable sentences. They would if it were their families or friends. Sometimes that's what it's going to take to knock some sense into them.

[rua1412.livejournal.com]

At least justice is done...give or take.