An interesting sentence for DUI was given to a young woman as she mentioned her Christian faith during her court proceedings. The judge sentenced the woman to jail for eight years, probation for five years after her release, substance abuse counseling and a summary of the Old Testament book of Job, as reported by the Herald Online.
C.B.T., 28, pleaded guilty to a DUI-fueled car crash that injured two people.
Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles handed down her unusual sentencing stipulation.
Kenneth Gaines, a professor of law at University of South Carolina, said, "Under normal circumstances, the judge wouldn't have the authority to do that. You can't just arbitrarily add anything you want to a sentence. But if she consented, it's really not an issue. It's critical that the defendant was in entire agreement with it."
Allegedly C.B.T. was more than in agreement, according to her attorney, Amy Sikora, C.B.T. has already begun the work to complete the assignment.
During the court proceedings C.B.T.'s personal history – of childhood abuse that led to alcoholism – was explained.
On Thanksgiving Day, C.B.T., then age 11, had gasoline poured over her before a relative set her on fire. She continues to this day to suffer with facial scaring. Prior to the fire, C.B.T. was subjected to multiple physical abuses. She coped with her pain by eventually turning to the numbing effects of alcohol.
More recently C.B.T. began attending New Vision Free Will Baptist Church in Rock Hill. Rev. Daggett Duncan met C.B.T. at New Vision and spoke in hr favor at the trial. Rev. Duncan said, "She's a very, very, very humble, distraught person. Looking in her eyes, you could see the pain. You just couldn't help but reach out."
On November 12 last year, nearing the anniversary of her burn attack, C.B.T., drove into another vehicle holding two passengers, while she was driving in the wrong lane, and under the influence of alcohol.
C.B.T.'s blood alcohol level was over four times the legal driving limit – according to the York County solicitor's office C.B.T.'s blood registered at 0.333.
Of the two men injured in the wreck, one cannot sit for over one hour at a time, due to rods and screws in his spinal column, and requires assistance from his family. The other injured man may loose his left foot and has already suffered through six surgeries.
Rev. Duncan said that C.B.T. is "extremely remorseful" and, with his assistance, had turned to Jesus Christ. She announced her newfound faith along with her guilty plea in court on June 20.
The story of Job is the story of a father of 10 who looses all of his worldly possessions, his livelihood, his children and suffers with painful sores. Job, never wavering in his faith in God, has his health restored, has 10 more children and gains back double the possessions he had lost.
Rev. Duncan believes that Judge Nettles included Job in C.B.T.'s sentencing because "Job made it through, and he wants her to know she can too."
Any charges stemming from DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI require that you contact a DUI attorney for the best and most experienced representation. The right attorney can help you beginning with your plea through to your sentencing.