Lack of Remorse Equals Maximum Sentence in DUI

Lars Haas, 18, has received the maximum sentence, as reported by the Register Star, from Columbia County Judge Jonathan Nichols, for a drunk driving accident he was in last September that left Robert Meehan, 72, dead.

Driving his mother's 2008 Pontiac Vibe on September 25, 2009 around 8:45 p.m. on Route 22, Haas failed to stop at a red light and crashed his vehicle into the 2001 GMC Sierra Pickup truck that was driven by Meehan.

Meehan wasn't wearing a seat belt, was ejected from his truck and died from his injuries five weeks later.

Haas, along with passengers Michael Hotaling and Alesha O'Dell, had to be removed from the vehicle with the assistance of fire fighter personal from New Lebanon and East Chatham.  All three had to be transported to local hospitals.

Hass, now eighteen, admitted in court that he was intoxicated when he had the accident and plead guilty to one count each of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree vehicular assault and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison Jr. spoke to the Register Star in November and said that Haas had been drinking alcohol with his mother, Susan Haas, 52, and two other minors in their home prior to the accident. 

Haas was originally charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or more, driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol, reckless driving and several moving violations.

Gennaro Calabrese, Haas's defense attorney, asked for a plea deal with the District Attorney's Office for concurrent prison terms of 2 to 7 years for manslaughter, 1 to 4 years for assault, and one year for the DUI.

Meehan's widow, Beth Meehan, asked that Haas receive the maximum sentence due to his "complete disregard for the law and his self-centered attitude."

O'Dell, the young victim that was traveling with Haas that night, recounted the evening's events, "I was hanging out with some of my friends at the house of Lars Haas and his mother, Susan Haas. A number of the young people there were drinking alcohol - beer and harder stuff - that I believe Susan had gotten and brought home. Susan was with us, drinking too." 

At the end of her statement O'Dell said, "I want to say that I feel great remorse and guilt for being part of a stupid evening that killed Mr. Meehan. I am haunted by not being able to help him. If I had not gotten in the car maybe things might have been different. I feel I am part of the reason he is in the grave."

O'Dell also asked that Haas be given the maximum sentence; "I don't think he gets it at all since he was arrested for burglary afterwards." Haas was arrested in June for an alleged March robbery of the New Lebanon Little League concession stand in Lebanon Springs.

Haas apologized to both the victims and their families before his sentencing.  Judge Nichols told Haas that even if Haas hadn't agreed to the maximum sentence, due to his lack of remorse, he would have received it anyway.

Susan Haas has been charged with three counts of unlawfully dealing with a child and for allegedly providing alcohol to her son and his friends.

If you or a loved one is facing a DUI, OUI or OWI, contact a DUI lawyer near you.