Drunken driver gets life in prison

[JayS]

June 25, 2004, 11:10PM
Drunken driver gets life in prison
Teen tells of wreck that killed father
By ANDREW TILGHMAN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2648150



Seated in a wheelchair in the middle of the courtroom, 17-year-old Kenneth Smith was ready to testify Friday, but there was a problem.

The teenager, who was left a quadriplegic after a traffic accident last year, couldn't raise his right hand to be sworn in. He asked a sheriff's deputy to hold the hand up while he took the oath.

And then Smith told about waking up in a hospital to learn that he may never walk again -- and that his father was dead.

Finally, he summarized his feelings about the habitual drunken driver who caused the car wreck that turned his life upside-down.

"I just hope he gets the maximum," Smith said.

State District Judge Mary Lou Keel granted his wish, sentencing Ramchoud Jagaroo to life in prison for causing the collision that paralyzed the teen and killed 35-year-old Gary Smith on Sept. 13.

*SNIP*

[Jack_DeLeon]

1. Sounds like justice was served.

[gatlingforme]

2. Life sentence for intoxication manslaughter ???? I think what

happened was horrible. However, apparantly that also does not say much for the defense. Obviously he is an alcoholic who should have received treatment along with his initial DUI. Now, the taxpayers will support him for a long time. Repeat rapists should be getting these sentences!!!

[Lenape85]

3. I agree...

He should be forced into a hospital and never allowed to drive again. He also should be forced to pay at least a portion of the costs of treatment.

[Retired AF Dem]

4. How do you keep them from driving again?

A much to high number of DUI wrecks are caused from drunks that have previously lost their licenses.

[gatlingforme]

6. I agree, and he should pay at least 80% of treatment plus any

restitution the court deems. You can't force someone into treatment, but if you give them the option of 6 mos rehab in house at jail or jail out right for 5 yrs you can have alot of volunteers for rehab. then give them 4 yrs prob. with random tests, and no driving priv. that might be good too. There are so many options. Here in Illinois
(My county) we have a drug court, which is very stringent but rehab is the theme here. they must report to the judge once a week and take samples.... etc.... they have a graduation after --- 2 years ---
in this rehab. and it is soooooo good this program is known now nationally. Judge Doyle is his name and he is excellent, Kane Countu IL google him it's great program.... Sorry that was reply to # 2>

[Jack_DeLeon]

5. The sentance is appropriate.

Repeat offenders belong in prison, not in rehab.

This guy already had his chance and he blew it and ruined the lives of people other than himself.

I know some alcoholics and yes alcoholism is a disease, but atleast most of the alcoholics I know atleast have the sense not to go out and drive while they are getting drunk.

I can atleast respect those kind of alcoholics they dont want to go out and ruin other people's lives too.

I agree repeat rapists should be getting these sentences. So should repeat murders, which they usually do if not the death penalty. I think repeat DUI offenders who kill someone because of thier drunk driving should also get these sentances.

[gatlingforme]

7. Point well taken!!, I understand there are different circumstances

for each case.

[pdmike]

8. Keep Coming Back - to a Program

I agree with those who say get the drunk into a program rather than slam him into prison for the rest of his life.

I know an individual who has been sober now for almost ten years because, when he got his last drunk driving ticket, the judge ordered him to go to AA. He went to AA, took it seriously, and has been sober for the past ten years. He is highly successful in his profession and a real asset to society.

Hard to argue with a success story like that.

pdmike

[pnb]

9. Hard to argue with a dead man and a quadriplegic also

He's had many years to go into a treatment program and chose not too. It's his responsibility to clean himself up, not the courts. Besides, those court ordered programs are not about helping anyone anyway, they are about revenue for the jurisdiction.

I agree with the sentence 100%.

[Jack_DeLeon]

10. He already had his chances, now is time to lock him up for good.

Jagaroo had three previous driving-while-intoxicated convictions, the most recent in 1990, according to records. He originally was sentenced to five years' probation, prosecutors said, but violated the probation terms and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Now he finally went and killed someone, he doesnt deserve another chance.

If he had a previous clean record and this was the first time he was caught DUI because he killed someone then maybe I could understand giving him a lesser sentance.

But repeat offenders who take a life deserve no mercy.