'Truck driver sentenced to 2 1/2 years for fatal bicycle crash on KAFB'
10-24-19, 08:07 AM
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'Truck driver sentenced to 2 1/2 years for fatal bicycle crash on KAFB'
10-24-19, 10:56 AM
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It didn't.
The important part:
The important part:
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque man was recently sentenced to 2˝ years in federal prison in connection with the death of a bicyclist on Kirtland Air Force Base in 2013.
Joseph Baca, 39, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in May and was sentenced on Oct. 17, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a Tuesday news release.
In his plea agreement, Baca admitted driving a concrete truck on Kirtland on Dec. 4, 2013, and crashing into a bicyclist after running a stop sign while talking on his cellphone, according to the release.
The bicyclist — identified in a previous Journal story as Jesse Hawkins — died from his injuries.
Joseph Baca, 39, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in May and was sentenced on Oct. 17, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a Tuesday news release.
In his plea agreement, Baca admitted driving a concrete truck on Kirtland on Dec. 4, 2013, and crashing into a bicyclist after running a stop sign while talking on his cellphone, according to the release.
The bicyclist — identified in a previous Journal story as Jesse Hawkins — died from his injuries.
10-24-19, 01:53 PM
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10-25-19, 06:56 AM
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Only a short sentence for killing a person. He admitted he was on his cell phone and ran a red light. It should have been at least 20 years is prison.
10-25-19, 06:58 AM
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Since he was on a cell phone and ran a red light, he should have gotten at least 20 years in prison.
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10-25-19, 07:09 AM
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Anyone know why this 2013 case is only now resulting in a conviction? Even for the criminal justice system, 6 years is a long wait.
10-25-19, 10:42 AM
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10-25-19, 10:45 AM
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For a hint, there are paywalls in the UK that show up when I’m in the US, but not when I’m in the UK. And vice versa. Kind of like quo pro quid.
(And I risked much wrath when I watched GoT in recent travels.)
-mr. bill
(And I risked much wrath when I watched GoT in recent travels.)
-mr. bill
10-25-19, 12:25 PM
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10-25-19, 01:48 PM
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Also, regarding the sentence: I agree that gross negligence resulting in the death of another human being should carry a greater penalty, but we don't know if there were other mitigating factors, we (at least, I) don't know what the Fed sentencing guidelines are (conceivable that this is the max for involuntary manslaughter). Also: culture. We're an auto-centric culture which regards driving as central to our identity, so as a culture we're reluctant to hold drivers to account for their actions. Look how much time and effort it took to get drunk driving penalties changed to more than a slap on the wrist.
10-25-19, 02:33 PM
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IANAL, so pure speculation here: Federal case (killing took place on federal land), and there is a critical shortage of Fed judges because of partisan politics (Dems won't approve Rep judge noms when they're in power, and vice versa).
Also, regarding the sentence: I agree that gross negligence resulting in the death of another human being should carry a greater penalty, but we don't know if there were other mitigating factors, we (at least, I) don't know what the Fed sentencing guidelines are (conceivable that this is the max for involuntary manslaughter). Also: culture. We're an auto-centric culture which regards driving as central to our identity, so as a culture we're reluctant to hold drivers to account for their actions. Look how much time and effort it took to get drunk driving penalties changed to more than a slap on the wrist.
Also, regarding the sentence: I agree that gross negligence resulting in the death of another human being should carry a greater penalty, but we don't know if there were other mitigating factors, we (at least, I) don't know what the Fed sentencing guidelines are (conceivable that this is the max for involuntary manslaughter). Also: culture. We're an auto-centric culture which regards driving as central to our identity, so as a culture we're reluctant to hold drivers to account for their actions. Look how much time and effort it took to get drunk driving penalties changed to more than a slap on the wrist.
I don't think 2 1/2 years is out of whack, it's a pretty devastating sentence.
Even in the federal system, 6 years is a long time for a case to work it's way through. Something out of the ordinary happened here.
10-27-19, 07:44 AM
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2 1/2 years in prison is a hell of a lot more than a slap on the wrist. My experience is that for anything but obvious life sentence at least murders, no two people are likely to come up with the same "fair" sentence for any given crime.
I don't think 2 1/2 years is out of whack, it's a pretty devastating sentence.
Even in the federal system, 6 years is a long time for a case to work it's way through. Something out of the ordinary happened here.
I don't think 2 1/2 years is out of whack, it's a pretty devastating sentence.
Even in the federal system, 6 years is a long time for a case to work it's way through. Something out of the ordinary happened here.
10-27-19, 11:02 AM
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If someone you cared about was killed by someone on their cell-phone I doubt you would be as blase about a 2.5 year sentence for their killer. 10 year sentences are the rule for negligent manslaughter. Kids are sentenced to 15 to 25 for a second shoplifting conviction. Life sentences for a single blunt were common in the 80's and 90's. Excuse me, your bias is showing.
10-27-19, 04:41 PM
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Given that a truck driver, using a cell phone, serves the 1% so much more (and the precedent a realistic sentence will set and mean to their holy profits) than a "cyclist"....
"Just them" trumps justice every time....
"Just them" trumps justice every time....
