Man gets 99 years in prison for 16th DWI

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Man gets 99 years in prison for 16th DWI

"Practically every time he's getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle ... he's driving drunk"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42275429/ns/local_news-houston_tx/

By Ryan Korsgard
Click2Houston.com

CONROE, Texas — A man got a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of driving while intoxicated for the 16th time.

Montgomery County prosecutors said James Steven Corley, 52, was pulled over for a broken taillight and weaving within his lane in August. It was a felony DWI stop. Prosecutors said Corley's blood alcohol level was .10.

"This defendant is an extremely dangerous driver," Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepramm said. "Practically every time he's getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, according to the testimony, he's driving drunk. He testified that whenever he does it, he doesn't think about anybody who is on the street with him. It's all about him. All about getting drunk."

Corley was sentenced as a habitual offender Wednesday to 99 years in prison. Prosecutors estimate Corley could be up for parole in 10 to 15 years depending on his behavior.

[Renew Deal]

1. How is he up for parole in 10-15 for a 99 year sentence?

That doesn't sound proportional.

[varkam]

11. Non-violent offense. eom

[Renew Deal]

21. He has to finally kill someone for him to stay in jail?

It's a 99 year sentence. Serving 10-15% of it is a sham.

[varkam]

25. That's generally how it works -- for a non-violent offense...

you only have to serve a proportion of your sentence to be parole-eligible (and usually a small proportion). For a violent offense, by contrast, most states require you to serve most (e.g. 85%) before being parole-eligible.

It is also worth noting that after serving the percentage, he becomes parole eligible. Unless he shows some sort of dedication to change, it seems like given his history of recidivism the parole board would like defer their judgment for quite some time.

[Quantess]

2. He probably should be locked up...for our safety.

1 DUII is forgiveable, 16 DUIIs is incorrigible.

[Recovered Repug]

3. He was driving with a busted taillight and weaving in his lane.

With so much practice driving while drunk, you'd think he'd be better at it.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. He's been caught 16 times.

He was probably a guaranteed conviction every time they saw his car. After 10 or so the cop would likely just have him sit up front and work the radio on the way to the station.

Everybody's good at something, this guy shouldn't have stopped trying out new hobbies.

[Paradoxical]

4. This is why we need an idiot island.

Two options:

You are put in a facility to keep you from drinking and driving.

Or, you can go to this stateless island where you can do whatever the fuck you want. But no one will be there to save you from the other idiots.

[Tx4obama]

5. Alcoholism and drug addiction needs to be treated as a medical problem not a criminal one.

This guy's sentence for being drunk is more than some murderers and rapists get!
Now that corporations are owning and running prisons we will be seeing an increase in very long sentences.
They have to make their quota ya know.

[Paradoxical]

6. Not every medical problem is treatable. And many pose a danger to others.

Like violent schizophrenics, for instance.

[Tx4obama]

7. This is America, we don't send people to prison for what 'MAY' happen.

Btw, schizophrenics aren't sent to prison 'before' they commit a crime,
they are committed to a hospital when they are out of control and then their medicine is adjusted.

[Paradoxical]

8. I didn't say that he should be sent to prison. I said he needs to be put in a facility.

It doesn't have to be a prison.

[Maru Kitteh]

10. He wasn't sent for what he MAY do - he was sent for what he's DONE. n/t

[varkam]

12. If he was just sent away for what he's done, then I'd say 99 years for DWI is...

unconstitutional. I don't care if it was his 16th or 160th DWI, 99 years is not a punishment that fits the crime.

[BzaDem]

13. I doubt it. You can get life sentences for much less serious crimes under three strikes laws. n/t

[varkam]

18. The Supreme Court, IIRC, has also invalidated de facto life sentences...

for minor property offenses under repeat offender laws. Even aside from that, the fact that such sentences are available doesn't make them right, fair, or just. A life sentence for passing a bogus check, for example, isn't justice.

[Maru Kitteh]

14. You can go ahead and say it, but you'd be wrong. n/t

[varkam]

17. Sure. eom

[Donald Ian Rankin]

24. No, but you do jail them for what did.

Driving while drunk is, and should be, a fairly serious offence.

Alcohol is addictive, I acknowledge. But driving is *not* addictive; if you can't stay sober then you mustn't drive.

[Puregonzo1188]

15. I have difficulty believing that harsh sentences achieve much of anything other than transferring

wealth away from the state and to the prison-industrial complex. I have particular difficulty believing the problem with an alcoholic is just he hasn't received harsh enough sentence yet.

Seriously, this guy is a problem and a danger, but is this the best solution we can think of? I'm assuming he no longer has a license, but the article doesn't say. Wouldn't the state have seized his car at some point? And if so how did he pay for a new one? Aren't there mandatory car breathalyzers (car doesn't run unless you're blood alcohol level is below a certain level) for repeat offenders in some states? Is Texas not one of them (I know there are ways to get around them which is what I'm wondering about).

Has he been to rehab? Had any kind of treatment for alcoholism?

Seriously I need more information on this.

[Initech]

16. You'd think after the 10th....

[KT2000]

19. this man was sentenced for DRIVING

while drunk. He was not sentenced for being drunk. If he will not stop himself from driving - someone has to.

We have a 24 y.o woman who hit and killed a woman crossing the street at night. She was not charged.
Six months later she crossed the centerline and crashed into a car killing the driver- a highly regarded nurse who did home care for tribal members.
The young lady was 3 times the legal limit for alcohol at 8 in the morning.
She has since been charged with witness tampering.
I would not object to a long sentence for her either.

[Mojorabbit]

23. Cheaper to put him in an inhouse

program to get him off alcohol than to pay his upkeep in prison for "99" years.

[uppityperson]

20. I wonder if he had to do any rehab or time any of the other times he was arrested for dui.

[old mark]

22. GOOD-should have happened years ago. I think you should get a real 10 years

after #4, and life after #6.


mark