Justice For All
At 7:15 AM on a Miami street 59-year old crane operator Mario Reyes met 30-year old Donte Stallworth, a professional football player for the Cleveland Browns. They met on the street where Reyes, after finishing a work shift had the gall to attempt to run across the street to catch a bus. Stallworth, just finishing a shift of drinking at the bar, was considerate enough to flash his lights at Reyes, before hitting him with his car.
Reyes never got Stallworth's autograph. Their meeting literally killed him. An awful story. That morning, Stallworth was drunk and Reyes was dead because of it.
Yesterday the punishment was handed down. Despite laws that say that vehicular manslaughter due to drunk-driving is a crime punishable by a lengthy prison sentence, Stallworth received 30 days in jail. He received credit for one day served - down to 29. He also receives five days off his sentence due to a Florida law that reduces each month of a sentence by five days - (explain that logic to me).
Why so lenient, you ask?
Geez, let's break it down.
1). He was a nice guy at the scene. Hell, he even stayed for the whole investigation.
2). He signs autographs for little kids whenever he has a chance.
3). He cooperated with the officials all the way through. He even signed a ball for the judge.
4). He made the Pro Bowl one year, didn't he?
5). He paid off the Reyes family.
6). He's really, really sorry.
7). He did flash his lights.
8). Reyes was jaywalking.
9). He wasn't really that drunk. 1.2 is close enough isn't it? Grades of 40 were close enough when he went through school.
10). Reyes made a mess of the front grille of his car.
Give me a freaking break - 24 days in jail for a life?
What if it were you or me? Are we signing autographs to get out of it?
One judge, in explaining the sentence said that Stallworth is on triple secret probation now.
Basically, if he screws up again, he will be facing a lengthy prison sentence.
Sounds like too little too late to me.
Reyes never got Stallworth's autograph. Their meeting literally killed him. An awful story. That morning, Stallworth was drunk and Reyes was dead because of it.
Yesterday the punishment was handed down. Despite laws that say that vehicular manslaughter due to drunk-driving is a crime punishable by a lengthy prison sentence, Stallworth received 30 days in jail. He received credit for one day served - down to 29. He also receives five days off his sentence due to a Florida law that reduces each month of a sentence by five days - (explain that logic to me).
Why so lenient, you ask?
Geez, let's break it down.
1). He was a nice guy at the scene. Hell, he even stayed for the whole investigation.
2). He signs autographs for little kids whenever he has a chance.
3). He cooperated with the officials all the way through. He even signed a ball for the judge.
4). He made the Pro Bowl one year, didn't he?
5). He paid off the Reyes family.
6). He's really, really sorry.
7). He did flash his lights.
8). Reyes was jaywalking.
9). He wasn't really that drunk. 1.2 is close enough isn't it? Grades of 40 were close enough when he went through school.
10). Reyes made a mess of the front grille of his car.
Give me a freaking break - 24 days in jail for a life?
What if it were you or me? Are we signing autographs to get out of it?
One judge, in explaining the sentence said that Stallworth is on triple secret probation now.
Basically, if he screws up again, he will be facing a lengthy prison sentence.
Sounds like too little too late to me.
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