DUI driver's sentence shorter than victims' families want

trucker45 said on March 17, 2010 at 12:26 PM

It sure would be nice to have somebody other than our lawmakers in Olympia could be the ones that write the penalties for drunken driving. That way they could not write pathetic weak laws just in case ( far too often ) that they get snared in the web. They think it is perfectly Ok to take away guns from law abided people since they don't have any but heck no to locking up drunks who kill for a meaningful length of time.

myopinion895 said on March 17, 2010 at 12:05 PM

I am very sorry for the family and their loss. It is EXTREMELY important for everyone making comments to know that if you have a couple of beers (far from being out of control) or have ever had a couple of beers and drove, you are just as guilty as this man. You were just fortunate enough not to have the consequences he will live with forever. Remember that the next time you go to happy after work or hooters to watch a game or a friends house for dinner.

scoty said on March 17, 2010 at 10:11 AM

I watched this story last night, however reading the headline I just have one comment, SORRY FOR THEIR LOSS. However reading "DUI driver's sentence shorter than victims' families want". Since when do the Victims become the law, the only time victims should be the law are in cases of child molestation.

jessjustice said on March 17, 2010 at 10:00 AM

There is absolutely NO excuse for drunk driving, and I'm sure now this guy feels horrible! I agree that 8 years times FOUR should be served. But just imagine the guilt this guy is going to live with for the rest of his life. Maybe after his 8 year sentence he can and will help people... like speak out against drunk driving and possibly prevent future drunk driving incidents!!

graham said on March 17, 2010 at 9:33 AM

Good thing i was'nt the judge or he would be in for 25yrs

livinglife said on March 17, 2010 at 9:27 AM

another slap on the wrist

chowderchops said on March 17, 2010 at 9:27 AM

You now understand what it is like when a careless driver kills a motorcyclist and only gets a few years or even less. Enjoy your Karmic backfire. very little sympathy here.

krazkat said on March 17, 2010 at 8:06 AM

What else is new!!! The legislature needs make the sentences for these DUI crimes stiffer; something that will really teach them a lesson. Look at the case of Frederick Russel: Killed 3 college students, severely injured others, jumped bail (ran off to Ireland).......................... Believe he ended up getting about 14 years in total. Where was the justice in that one either. The sentences these idiots are getting are just slaps on the hand; give me a break THEY KILLED PEOPLE.

rdog0121 said on March 17, 2010 at 6:12 AM

aziza - your first comment was relevant. The last one was just to hear yourself talk. Come on people, Paperchase is correct, the legal system has limits that are imposed by OUR government. Many of us (and probably most of those adding comments) have got behind the wheel after having a few...and we were simply lucky we did not kill someone. While I don't condone anything like this, I'm sure the guy will suffer, not to the extent of the victims, but he will suffer.

littledude said on March 17, 2010 at 4:03 AM

I cant imagine loosing a close friend or family member like this, then have to suffer more seeing that the dumbf*** only spends 8 years in prison... you know the joke when people get their drivers licence? "uh oh i better stay off the road now!!"... think im going to take this literally in 8 years... doubt he will learn

justthinkin said on March 16, 2010 at 9:27 PM

The sentence this guy received is horrible, I agree. You can't blame the Judge for the sentence he handed down. The amount of time one serves for any crime is mandated by state law and the "powers that be" in Olympia. The Judge is just the middle man/woman. To add to this horror, McDonald wll not even serve a full eight years. To Debbie, Suzie and Cynthia: Our prayers continue to be with you. None of this has been easy...I know from experience. My siblings killer was sentenced to 33 MONTHS and served 24 MONTHS of his sentence. Your mom and dad were wonderful human beings and friends, and taken from all of us way too soon. Be there for each other and remember the good times! :)

javajoe said on March 16, 2010 at 9:12 PM

This is what Washington State lawmakers do. They ban guns from law abiding citizens and then let scumbags like this back on the streets.

aziza said on March 16, 2010 at 7:51 PM

Oh and by the way? What is this "Mamby Pamby" stuff about using him as an advocate against drunk driving once he is released? What's he going to say? "Hey, I got drunk, drove a car, killed some people and you too can get only eight years like me!" I really feel for the family, its a real slap in the face.

paperchase said on March 16, 2010 at 7:48 PM

For those judging the justice system, it's your elected legislators who set the standard sentencing range for this crime. The judge is bound to deliver a sentence between 77-102 months and has no discretion to impose more. Don't like the sentence? Call your congressman.

telman said on March 16, 2010 at 7:41 PM

There we go again this judge believes in restorative justice. This McDonald guy should have been sentenced to four consecutive terms. I don't care if he was sorry. These peoples family are sorry to. He is a poor excuse of a man.

tracer2009 said on March 16, 2010 at 7:33 PM

BrownDog... Agreed, it is your perogative to "get wasted". Great that you then don't drive or have a DD or whatever... But what exactly do you mean by you "can control yourself"? Getting wasted and controlling oneself don't go hand-in-hand. Better rethink that.

fitchik said on March 16, 2010 at 7:31 PM

He deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life. Eight years for killing four people? Wow, I didn't know our justice system went so lightly on people. I agree with aziza

daverino said on March 16, 2010 at 6:53 PM

They try to say a vehicle is a deadly weapon, drive at a cop he'll whipp out his gun and shoot you dead. If he misses you he'll chase you down and kill you. why? to protect the rest of us from a person who really should be in a cage months or years ago, but hasn't gotten caught yet. This guy didn't care about the consequences of his actions if he did, he would have called a cab... So to me he did this on purpose. He should have gotten premeditated aggravated murder x 4. This judge really must be a fellow drunk.

browndog said on March 16, 2010 at 6:52 PM

I like to go out and get wasted once in a while, that is my perogative. But I never end up behind the wheel and can control myself. Though I know I will never know the pain of those that lost the family members in this, if this guy is truly remorseful, I bet he wishes everyday that he had died and not those people.

daverino said on March 16, 2010 at 6:39 PM

He gets his third off for good behavior... and if he enters a treatment program and opts for the community service of speaking at the "victims panel" he can get the electronic monitor braclet and serve his last part at home or work release at "senudru" recycle. for being non-violent (while sober) with no other crimes,(he only got caught one time) not the 50 or so times he drank and drove without crashing into anything.

franky said on March 16, 2010 at 6:36 PM

Four people died, he should be serving 4 life sentences. This state is too soft on offenders.

ramigo said on March 16, 2010 at 5:56 PM

"Before the accident, McDonald had a clean record." If I kill four people tomorrow (doesn't matter how) will I get eight years too, since I have clean record? What a great law we have! And what this judge was smoking when giving only eight years? @ tracer2009 - I hope he does drop the soap! @ graham - it is bad that you are not the judge. I want you to be the judge. My deep condolences to the family. It is a shame to our legal system that criminals like this only get 8 years for killing 4 people. And not to mention, many others who suffer by losing them.

yogibear said on March 16, 2010 at 5:42 PM

aziza agreed!!!

aziza said on March 16, 2010 at 5:26 PM

DUI- especially ones that involve crashes are nothing short of attempted murder and should be treated as such. It is no mystery of the dangers of drinking and driving. We are way too easy on these scumbags. I think we should have a one strike and you are out law with regards to drunks and sex offenders.

sumner_son said on March 16, 2010 at 5:01 PM

Is it any wonder we have so many drunken drivers killing innocent civilians? All of 8 years.....woohoo...wow....boy, that's really going to teach him and all the other drunk drivers a lesson........really....... Treat an animal wrong, and you get 25 years. Kill a person, no make that FOUR people, while driving drunk, and get 8 years. WHAT THE H@LL IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE????? HELLO, OLYMPIA???? IS ANYBODY OUT THERE??????? DOES ANYONE IN THE GOVERNMENT REALLY GIVE A CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE?????

mrcrowley said on March 16, 2010 at 4:49 PM

Official member of Team Massengil.

graham said on March 16, 2010 at 4:39 PM

Good thing im not the judge or he would be locked up for the next 30yrs

tracer2009 said on March 16, 2010 at 4:34 PM

Don't drop the soap, scumbag.

bazwest said on March 16, 2010 at 4:31 PM

You can't bring back the victims of irresponsible drinking and driving. I guess drinking all that alcohol didn't turn out to be as fun in the end as Mr. McDonald thought it was going to be. These are the stories that are not featured in those cool alcohol commercials we see on TV everyday.