As reported by The Virginian-Pilot, while a young woman still struggles with her injuries, the man responsible for the DUI-fueled crash she was involved in has pleaded guilty in Circuit Court to underage possession of alcohol and DUI.
M.G., now 17, was driven by C.A.W., now 19, when he rammed his vehicle into a tree and fractured her skull. The ensuing brain injury caused the young woman to be in a coma for 10 days. Once she awoke, M.G. spent two more weeks in intensive care.
During the time in the hospital, according to M.G.'s father, S.G., she was unable to stay completely conscious, couldn't speak, open her eyes or move her fingers. Friends and family members, though hopeful, were concerned that M.G. may remain paralyzed for life.
M.G. was in court on August 22 and witnessed C.A.W., wearing a jail-issued orange jumpsuit, enter his guilty plea. Accompanied by both of her parents, M.G. was able to sit upright and appeared to be apt at moving and speech.
C.A.W. will remain in custody, without bond, at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center until his sentencing.
Along with his guilty plea for the DUI and DUI related charges, C.A.W. also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge, from a May 16 incident, of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
C.A.W. will face his sentencing on December 10. He is looking at up to 16 years of imprisonment.
At approximately 4 in the morning on June 16, 2011, C.A.W. crashed his car in the Salem Woods area, just between the two homes of the two teens. The two, friends at the time, had been at C.A.W.'s family's home prior to the crash according to their fathers.
C.A.W., a recent high school graduate, also suffered injuries in the crash, albeit less severe than the injuries that M.G. sustained.
This was C.A.W.'s second charge of underage possession of alcohol. The first charge, occurring two months prior to the crash, will be heard in court this September.
S.G., and other family members, expressed their gratitude that M.A.W. entered a guilty plea instead of putting the family through a trial. S.G. said, "It was a relief we didn't have to go through all that and (M.G.) didn't have to be subjected to the whole thing. I'm glad he's taking responsibility for what he did."
After her time in the hospital, M.G. entered a Charlottesville rehabilitation center. She started counseling, suffered through seizures, and, according to her father, must contend with having a hole in her skull that is the size of a quarter.
S.G. is also grateful that M.G. has been able to slowly move forward with her life. She is entering her senior year at Salem High School, and her neurosurgeon has cleared her to play softball and to cheerlead.
S.G. added, "It's been a miracle. She's made an amazing recovery. We're just really grateful for the progress she's made, and I'm glad that (M.A.C.) pleaded guilty. And we hope to put this whole thing behind us and just move on from here."
Sometimes a charge of DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI isn't for drunken driving alone, as oftentimes there are other criminal charges at stake. Before you consider entering your plea, be sure to contact a DUI attorney for help.