Angels SP Nick Adenhart killed by hit and run

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

I'm sure these things happen all the time. Is this the standard sentence, or is he being made an example due to the mass media surrounding the death of Adenhart?

Note: I'm 100% for locking up DUI murderers, especially repeat offenders.

While I am sure prosecution drew a hard line in the sand on this case, given the pub it generates against drunk driving, I don't think 50 years is out of question considering Gallo was convicted of three separate charges of second degree murder, among other charges.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

rgr that...I don't remember hearing that there were 2 other deaths. Was one of them his step-brother?

Nope, his step brother and one other passenger were injured but only mild injuries, IIRC. The four primary victims were all in the other car.

[bhlloy]

The verdict really is beyond my wildest expectations, I thought the lawyers would get him off on a technicality or a sympathetic jury so for him to be convicted on all counts is pretty awesome.

Molson - I wish Braylon Edwards had been treated much more harshly by the NFL but this was a guy who had a long history of drink driving (according to the family even) and had even got to the point where he had to sign the document that said if he did it again and killed somebody he could be charged with murder. Pretty black and white in my book.

That being said, I'm strongly in favor with a 4 game suspension for any DUI and a season for a second offense in any professional league. It's made even more disgusting because these guys have millions of dollars and a league program that means they should never have to drive. It's basically saying that other people's lives and safety and the law of the land isn't worth them being inconvenienced to make a 5 minute phonecall.

[RainMaker]

Piece of trash is begging for leniency now.

Man convicted in death of Nick Adenhart seeking leniency - ESPN Los Angeles

[molson]

Whatever the sentences are, I hope they're consecutive per victim. I really hate when a crime with multiple victims is punished with concurrent sentences. You ruin or end more than one life, you should serve more than one sentence. It's disrespectful to do otherwise, IMO.

I also like to see over-the-top nonsense from defense attorneys at the trial and sentencing stage - that saves us from the appellate isue that your attorney didn't do enough.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by molson

Whatever the sentences are, I hope they're consecutive per victim. I really hate when a crime with multiple victims is punished with concurrent sentences. You ruin or end more than one life, you should serve more than one sentence. It's disrespectful to do otherwise, IMO.

I also like to see over-the-top nonsense from defense attorneys at the trial and sentencing stage - that saves us from the appellate isue that your attorney didn't do enough.

Yeah, the defense attroney is trying to get all three of the second degree murder sentences run concurrent (15 years to life). There's also an additional 6-7 years for the 4th victim (the survivor), which the attorney also wants rolled into the same sentence.

I, too, would not like to see these run concurrent. This guy was so criminally negligent as to his own actions, that he's as guilty of murder as if he were a serial killer, IMO.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

AP says 51 to life, so consecutive.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

AP says 51 to life, so consecutive.

Sounds like one big fat sentence with everything running concurrently. (But the first news reports are often inaccurate because they don't get the terminology right).

And I'm not positive, but in California, I'm pretty sure "51 years" does not mean "51 years". It'd be a shame if he was out in 15.

3 consecutive terms of 51 to life would solve that problem, but I doubt that's what happened.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

AP says 51 to life, so consecutive.

Yeah, that about matches the separate sentences, total years; 15 to life, 15 to life, 15 to life, 6 yrs & 8 mts==51 yrs & 8 mts to life.

I can't speak to the likelihood he'll serve all that. I don't know what CA's parole system is like.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by molson

Sounds like one big fat sentence with everything running concurrently. (But the first news reports are often inaccurate because they don't get the terminology right).

How is that possible? 15+15+15+6 = 51. How is that not consecutive?

[molson]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

How is that possible? 15+15+15+6 = 51. How is that not consecutive?

You're right, I hadn't followed the case lately and was assuming harsher punishments than 15 per.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by molson

You're right, I hadn't followed the case lately and was assuming harsher punishments than 15 per.

The convictions were second degree murder. I think first degree murder in CA is 25 to life, so I guess 15 to life is within the realm of a step down from first. But I agree with you, seems too light for someone dying by the choice of another.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by molson

Sounds like one big fat sentence with everything running concurrently. (But the first news reports are often inaccurate because they don't get the terminology right).

And I'm not positive, but in California, I'm pretty sure "51 years" does not mean "51 years". It'd be a shame if he was out in 15.

3 consecutive terms of 51 to life would solve that problem, but I doubt that's what happened.

I'm pretty sure that in California, there is no parole on 2nd degree murder. So he is not eligible for parole until he serves 45 years (for the 3 murders at 15 per).