The Oregonian is reporting that Vancouver resident Anthony Wesley Miller was sentenced to a mere one year, and one day, prison sentence for striking and killing “Quality” Dan Baldwin of local band Power of County.
Both Miller and Baldwin were over the legal limit when the accident occurred on March 28th, as Miller’s SUV struck Baldwin’s motorcycle, killing him instantly. Miller fled the scene, but later returned and eventually pleaded guilty to the charges of drunken driving and criminally negligent homicide. The story is just incredibly sad, including this quote from Baldwin’s mother, Eleanor: “Mr. Miller, I would hope that you would not just walk away and forget.”
Ezra, I’m just curious to hear your take on this, but how long should the sentence be?
Just from what you’ve got here, I’d guess the judge in this case is thoroughly satisfied that Miller is genuinely remorseful and won’t ever drink and drive again after killing someone and going through all of this.
Add in the fact that they were both drunk. If one or the other hadn’t been drunk, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
Ezra, ujfoyt is right you left out a huge part of the story….Baldwin was also intoxicated. I’m not sure that should make a difference in sentencing but to not mention it at all is somewhat deceptive.
Plead guilty to drunk driving? Other than the confession, I imagine there wasn’t any evidence of that, since he fled the scene so he probably wasn’t still drunk when he came back…
Unfortunately, the way the laws are structured in this state, fleeing the scene of a an accident, (even a fatal one,) is less serious than a drunk driving conviction, so there is totally an incentive to flee. That should be fixed, of course, but…
@tlkqmp: It was part of the story. Ujfoyt read it from the story.
oops my bad.
Commenty Colin—
Personally, I think the sentence was light. But it’s clearly not my job to decide prison sentences for Miller, or anyone for that matter. It’s just a very sad story.