Probation and speaking engagements for Vehicular Homicide

In Morgan County, Jonathan Armes, 27,  was given a sentence of three years of probation for killing Terry Ledford, 50, while driving recklessly with a high level of oxycodone in his system. As part of the sentence Armes has been ordered to speak to High School students about the dangers of driving impaired.
I know nothing about this case, but I have a problem with sending offenders to school to talk to students. What makes us certain that an offender like this will have a positive result when speaking? Is he an effective public speaker? Will he make light of the situation? Will he go in and blame others for his predicament? Maybe, this Judge knows enough about this offender, that he has made the right decision in this instance. In most situations killing another person does not qualify an offender to become a counselor to students, so these types of orders are a little scary.

Read the News Sentinel report about this tragic case at:
Probation given in Morgan County vehicular homicide case » Knoxville News Sentinel

Felony DUI on Lawnmower affirmed

Six years is the sentence for a Range 2 felon, who drove impaired on a lawnmower. He is a 6 time DUI offender, who was also a declared habitual traffic offender. This guy was driving down the middle of the road on a riding mower with a .15 BAC level.
Read the decision at:
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/mcmurraymartinopn.pdf

Halloween Drinking and Driving

Halloween is now one of the biggest drinking party events of the year. Many parties are scheduled this weekend. Don't end up in jail. Designate a driver and get home safely. You won't look good in the booking photo in your costume! You may end up on this blog. Be careful out there.

The best news from the annual DA's Conference was the unveiling of the new effort to fight against prescription and synthetic drug abuse. There is a powerful video and some great materials available. Go to the link to explore. These materials are free and can make a great difference.

http://www.tndagc.org/deceptivedanger/

50 years for double Aggravated Vehicular Homicides

In Wilson County a woman has received a 50 year sentence. Four-year old Alton Barrett and his grandfather, James Barrett, were killed.  The wreck left a third person, Ronnie Boyd, paralyzed.

Barbara Mayfield was driving 60 mph in a 30 mph zone while extremely intoxicated. Read about it at:

Woman Sentenced To 50 Years For Deadly DUI Crash - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

Sheriff Norman Lewis

Sorry to hear that Sheriff Lewis has passed away. He was a valuable member of the DUI Task Force appointed by Governor Bredeson in 2006. He was a Sheriff, who believed that enforcing traffic laws in his county would make his county safer. He had a great wit and a greater passion for doing the right thing. He will be missed.

12 year sentence for drunk, speeder who killed

Bryant Houston, 39, was traveling at 103  mph on Highway 153 in Chattanooga with a .19 BAC when he slammed into a car making a turn into a parking lot. In the child restraint seat in the back of the car was a 4 month old baby, Addison Moore.
Houston had the audacity to say he reached a .19 BAC by drinking 3 beers. A 200 pound male would have to consume about nine or ten beers in an hour to reach .19. This guy received a 12 year sentence from maiming two adults and killing a child. That's the maximum sentence in Tennessee. Maybe, during his prison time he can work on his math or his conscience.

Read about the tragic case at:
Chattanooga man sentenced to 12 years after 4-month-old girl dies in crash | timesfreepress.com

Welcome Karen Willis

The Clarksville Leaf Chronicle ran a great story about Karen Willis, recently sworn in as an Assistant DA. She sacrificed much in order to get where she is today and her story is inspiring.
 Enjoy!

Willis sworn in as first black female assistant DA in Montgomery County | The Leaf Chronicle -- Clarksville, Tenn., and Fort Campbell | theleafchronicle.com

Mother of two denied alternative sentencing in vehicular homicide- Kingsport Times-News

In Rogersville, Tennessee, Judge John Duggar denied a request for alternative sentencing in this vehicular homicide by intoxication case. The Defendant had a .17 BAC and three different drugs in her system, when she killed her passenger. Due to her prior criminal record, she was sentenced to 8 years. Congratulations to ADA Kevin Keeton for his efforts. Read about it at:
Mother of two denied alternative sentencing in vehicular homicide- Kingsport Times-News

New Case from the CCA

Eddie Joe Whitaker of Campbell County might be regretting his decision to go through a trial and sentencing. By the time it was done, he received a sentence of 11 months 29 days suspended only after serving 75% of the sentence.
After he was convicted and ordered not to drive, he kept driving. Combined with prior felony convictions, the Court did not believe he was trustworthy enough to comply with probation requirements.
The prosecutor in the case was LaTasha Wassom. Read the case at: http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/whitakereddiejoeopn.pdf

September fatalities

September 2012 ended up being substantially better than September 2011. There were 20 fewer traffic fatalities reported than in the in the previous year. We still lost 61 people during the month.
Using the Titan program I reviewed the 48 crashes currently listed in the program, which accounted for 51 deaths and 61 incapacitating injuries.

1)The fatal crashes occurred in 36 different counties.
2)The worst county was Jefferson with three fatal crashes.
3)There were two each in Bedford, Davidson, Gibson, Knox, Monroe and Shelby.
4)Five persons were killed in alcohol related crashes.
5)Two were killed in drug related crashes.
6)Three motorcyclists perished.
7)Three pedestrians died, one in a hit and run. Another was a 2 year old child.

Age of Fatal victims:

Those who passed away varied in age from 2 to 86.
1) 21 were over 55.
2) 12 were 24 or younger.
3) 5 were between 25 and 40.
4) 8 were between 41 and 55.

3.5 males died for every female.