Defendant’s Remorse Gets Him a Lighter Sentence
Jack Alvord, 61, was sentenced to 22 months in prison by a Portland judge when he plead guilty to DUI, reckless driving, and to third degree assault. Alvord, who was driving with a BAC of 0.30%, hit a blind man who was walking on the sidewalk (pining him between the car and a utility pole) before driving off. Alvord was then chased by fourteen people who caught him less than a mile away.
What’s noteworthy about this case is the fact that Alvord and the man whom he left with a broken pelvis and two broken legs are now friends.
Alvord was extremely remorseful for his actions. He voluntarily checked himself into a 30-day residential alcohol treatment center, urged his insurance company to pay a $1.25 million settlement, and has pledged that once he completes his prison sentence, he will speak to others in an effort to educate them about the dangers of drinking and driving.
These actions were all factored into the judge’s sentencing decision. Someone with a BAC almost 4 times the legal limit, who causes these types of injuries and is additionally guilty of a hit and run, would typically receive an even higher prison sentence.
Regardless of where you live, judges want to see remorse…they want to know that you honestly believe you made a mistake when you drove under the influence and that you have learned from that mistake.
If you have the misfortune of being arrested for a California DUI…and for whatever reason choose not to take your DUI case to trial…anything you can do to show the judge that you admit responsibility for your actions can go a long way in helping to reduce your sentence.
Source report: http://news.aol.com/article/drunk-driver-reconciles-with-blind/666660?icid=main|main|dl1|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fdrunk-driver-reconciles-with-blind%2F666660
