(4 DWI) Rider deaths could bring 50 years

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Andrew J. Nelson WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Prosecutors are recommending that the pickup truck driver accused in the deaths of four motorcyclists in a crash near Little Sioux, Iowa, be sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Andrew Schlichtemeier, 22, faces four counts of vehicular homicide in the deaths of Jay Bock, of Omaha; Steven Benscoter of Pacific Junction, Iowa; and Dale Aspedon and Dennis Chaney, both of Glenwood, Iowa.

snip: Schlichtemeier’s lawyer, Steve Lefler, said Tuesday that he hadn’t seen a copy of the final agreement and declined to comment on it.

He said there is a “very slight” possibility the case could still go to trial, because “nothing becomes final until a judge accepts it.”




Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110201/NEWS97/702019885#rider-deaths-could-bring-50-years

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An update to this mornings LBN story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4717661

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20110201&Category=NEWS97&ArtNo=702019885&Ref=AR&maxw=490&maxh=275
Schlichtemeier

[DrDan]

1. 0.373 - amazing he could even start his vehicle

[Journeyman]

2. If he was drinking at a bar (article doesn't say) the bartender should be sentenced, too. . .

0.373 BAC - anyone who encountered him before he got into his truck would have known he was in no shape to walk, let alone drive.

The article doesn't say where he was coming from, but if anyone served him liquor when he was that intoxicated, they should share his cell for as long as he's locked up. There's a gray area where people can't tell when another person is over the limit, and so shouldn't be held to account for what the other guy does, but I refuse to believe that even the most seasoned alcoholic wouldn't show considerable signs of inebriation at 4-1/2 times over the limit.

[Omaha Steve]

3. He had just left a gas station after buying more beer

This is not his first DWI. He was 21 when this happened.

There will be video after the local news runs tonight.

[Journeyman]

4. Thanks, OS. These stories are always so hard on all the survivors. . .

the drunk and his enablers included.

Far too often, the drunk -- especially a repeat offender, which can indicate alcoholism -- doesn't have the capacity to appreciate how inebriated they are. I don't mean to excuse him; he should never have placed himself in a position where he was driving while drunk in the first place. But many times, those who are best situated to recognize the danger these out-of-control drinkers pose are the ones who served them the alcohol. It's a sticky wicket, though -- even at 4+ times the limit, a busy store clerk may not recognize how drunk a customer may be, especially if he's in the middle of a crowd or the clerk is young or inexperienced. But in those instances where the server knowingly serves someone who's intoxicated, or should have known how intoxicated someone is, the server and the establishment should be held to equal account. It's just another weapon in whatever arsenal we can wield to stop this madness.

[pitohui]

5. why don't we just put everyone in prison who ever met the alcoholic

either you believe alcoholism is a disease or you don't, if you believe it's a disease, this young man has destroyed his own life just as much (really worse) than other lives, if you're dead you have no worries but 50 years in prison? it would be more merciful to kill him

as well as let's witchhunt every clerk at a gas station who sold a six pack of beer (but if they're young and cute we'll let 'em go on they couldn't tell the guy was drunk, we'll just put the folks we don't like in prison for selling a sixpack of beer)...please

another tool in the arsenal of crushing anyone who is just trying to hold a fucking job, clerk in a gas station at night where your risk of being killed on the job (murder) is about as high as your risk of being killed in a fucking coal mine, only you're paid peanuts instead of having a union job and benefits...yes, by all means, let's crush that guy and put him in prison too

i'm sorry that people are killed by disease but why must we ALSO cause even more damage by prosecuting people for having a disease or for even having a trivial interaction w. someone who has a disease?

the fact of it is, we have a society where people can't get where they're going without driving, in a world where we are known to be mammals w. approximately ten percent of us carrying the gene for an addiction, and yet "we" design society such that a person has no choice but to drive to get where they must go...

put the folks in prison for 50 years who killed the railroads or other safe forms of mass transit...then maybe i'll be interested in your cool plan to imprison bartenders and clerks

what the hell is wrong w. people? there is no tragedy so great that we shouldn't make it even more tragic and destroy even more lives?

[Journeyman]

6. Excellent misread of my post. . .

obviously wouldn't matter what I post here, you'd just take from it whatever you needed to get started. . .

ciao . . .

[MikeW]

7. dont agree

Having seen many DUI aftereffects of MVA's over the years, and MOST DUI's are repeat offenders I really have no sympathy for him.

The penalties arnt stiff enough, they should be

First offense, lose your license for a year.

Second, they revoke it and suspend your registration

Third, they send you to the can for a short period AND take your car and send it to the crusher.

After that you deserve a long stiff jail sentence.

They can get all the alcohol counseling they need in prison FREE.

[panzerfaust]

9. That seems about right

I would hazard a guess that most whose drunk driving ends up killing people have had multiple DUIs in the past.

[Omaha Steve]

8. Deal likely to mean less than 50 years (could be paroled in 10 to 20 year)

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110202/NEWS97/702029935#deal-likely-to-mean-less-than-50-years


I support MADD period: http://www.madd.org/

It was his choice to drive drunk. I freely admit 35 years ago attitudes were different. There were times I drove when I should not have. When I got a CDL for work in 1990, that was the huge difference for me personally. I knew a DWI would cost me my job. Whenever I'm away from home and drink, Marta drives us home. I never put myself in the position of drinking (like going to a sports bar) and having to drive.


By Andrew J. Nelson
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

If an Iowa judge accepts a plea agreement, the 22-year-old pickup truck driver accused in the deaths of four motorcycle riders on Interstate 29 might not be an old man when he gets out of prison.

Prosecutors this week recommended 50 years in prison for Andrew Schlichtemeier, who is accused of four counts of vehicular homicide. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

But in Iowa, criminals not sentenced to life — or whose crimes do not carry a mandatory minimum sentence — are eligible for parole as soon as they get to prison, said Clarence Key Jr., executive director of the Iowa Board of Parole.

“That hardly ever happens,” Key said.

Under the plea deal — which calls for two consecutive 25-year sentences and two more 25-year sentences to be served at the same time — Schlichtemeier could be paroled in 10 to 20 years, legal experts said Tuesday.

FULL story at link.