They led the guy and another jail inmate in.  I stared at him.  He'd look up at me but would quickly avert his eyes when he noticed I was gazing not so lovingly at him.  The first guy gets called up.  CSC guy.  Likes kids between the ages of 13-15 years old.  Lawyers do their spin.  He gets prison time.  I look over to the guy that hit me and he just became visibly nervous.  Knee bouncing, looking down at his lap.  Wouldn't even look at his mother that was in the bench in front of me.

He gets called up.  His attorney goes into the whole, "This is his first felony, he has been doing well during the last 4 months in jail.  Attending AA meetings, getting a sponsor, etc. etc.etc.  Dude got a chance to address the court and said he was sorry for what he did to the "victim".  Couldn't even say my name.  "Victim", indeed.  Said he was doing well and he had a long road for recovery ahead of him, but had the support of his family and sponsor.  Then the Prosecutor has his turn.  Starts naming all the convictions.  Turns out this technically isn't his 3rd drunk driving, but his 4th!  He blew a .26 the night he slammed into me.  He told the judge that I was present and wanted to give a statement.  So, I told the judge what happened and how it made me feel.  I also explained that I could've been killed.  Mentioned that I had two small children that could have potentially lost a father.  "Who would raise them then?", I asked haltingly.

Judge must have bought it.  She sentenced him 23-48 months in State Prison.  At that, the quiet sobbing that was being issued by the dude's mother turned into wailing.  I felt it was time to exit the courtroom with the escort from the Prosecutor's Office.  As I got to the aisle, the mother turned to me with a gutteral growl, "Nice act!"

So, at the elevator, I was thanking the assistant from the Prosecutor's Office for all their help when the Defense Attorney came out of the courtroom with Mommy Dreadful in close pursuit.  She was screaming, "You promised he wouldn't go to prison!!!"  Then something about, "...Son-of-a-b!+@&!!!", while pointing at me.  Dude's sponsor put his arm around her to lead her down the hall.  She stopped before turning a corner yelling, "NICE ACT!  NICE ACT!"  I turned, cocked my head to the side a bit, raised my eyebrow in false confusion and said, "Act, huh?"  She said something I didn't hear as she was gently dragged around the corner out of sight.

I'm glad it's over.  I'm not overjoyed, just satisfied.  He won't be sliding into a family of 6 at 60 miles an hour anytime soon and that is what I wanted.  I do feel that a weight has been lifted, or that just could be the feeling that more of my tax dollars will be taken to feed, house and give medical care for this guy for up to the next 4 years.  Eh.  I can live with it, I guess.

Glad it's over for you.  

I don't know how true it is, but we were told that the average DWI drives drunk something like 200-300 times before being caught.

Agreed.  Just hope she doesn't suffer from some kind of "Crazy Lady Syndrome" as they know my address from the police report...

 

I'm sure my somewhat emotional statement added some weight since the Judge quoted me in her sentencing.  I did say matter of factly that he could have killed me and left my children without a father.

It would be the minimum.  There are no "Good Time Credits" in my state.  Now, if he keeps his nose clean and doesn't get any disciplinary action(s) while he's in prison, he should get paroled at 23 months, less the amount he stayed in the county jail before sentencing.