The family and friends of a DUI victim, that wore his name emblazoned on their shirts in memory, grew so big that they had to be moved to a larger courtroom before the judge sentenced the man responsible for 15 years in prison, as reported by the Courier Press.
Judge David Kiely, of the Vanderburgh Superior Court, sentenced J.B. the multiple-year sentence for a car crash that took the life of K.T.W., 18, and injured one other.
The Vanderburgh Prosecutor’s Office and J.B. worked out an agreement that required J.B. to plead guilty to all of the seven charges that were made against him.
The courtroom was so full that those that did come to support J.B., his family from Arizona, stood in a corner during the hearing.
The shirts worn by those supporting the K.T.W. family read, “In loving memory of (K.T.W.), August 1, 1991-June 5, 2010” on the front and the deceased man’s high school football number “76” on the back.
The Deputy Prosecutor, Camela Cooley, told the tearful group, “At some point I will ask everybody who is here for Kyle to stand up, not that your shirts don’t show it.”
J.B. had admitted to aggressively driving a stolen van under the influence at the time of the accident. He told the courtroom, “I pray for (K.T.W.) every night and ask him to forgive me.
I have a son his age and I don’t know what I would do if I lost him. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I’m so sorry.”
V.W., K.T.W.’s grandmother, said, “I know that (K.T.W.) loved people and I know that Mr. J.B., he would love you too and forgive you.”
C.S., K.T.W.’s mother, read from a letter she had prepared, “This is the hardest letter I have ever had to write and I’m sorry the spelling is wrong and it is messy. I feel like I am being tortured forever now.”
All seven charges will be served at the same time, capping the time at a 15 year maximum. But for every “good day” served, and credit for time in jail, it will be possible for J.B. to be released after serving half of his sentence.
J.B. will also serve 18 months for stealing the van in Warrick County.
Judge Kiely read and quoted letters from both sides during the hearing. He cited the community support for the victim’s family.
The judge noted that J.B. appeared to be very sorry, but he also took into account that there were many other felony arrests and convictions that J.B. had in Arizona.
At least two of those convictions were for driving under the influence.
Police reports show that on June 5, J.B. drove the stolen van westbound on Morgan Avenue. Just west of Interstate 164, he began to rapidly accelerate, crashed head-on into a Ford Taurus, spun, and then struck another vehicle on the eastbound lanes.
K.T.W. was a passenger in the Taurus. The Taurus’ driver, J.L., suffered from broken vertebrae, broken facial bone, cuts and bruises.
The people in the second car that J.B. struck were uninjured.
Charges of DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI require the assistance of an experienced attorney. Contact a DUI defense attorney from our directory today!