24-Year-Old Gives Tearful Apology at DUI Sentencing Hearing

24-Year-Old Gives Tearful Apology at DUI Sentencing Hearing

By the Law Office of Wyndel G. Darville

B.T., a 24-year-old Sarasota man, recently pled no contest to charges of DUI manslaughter stemming from a fatal accident that happened about two years ago. B.T. was 22 years old at the time of the incident. The whole thing started on an afternoon early January 2012 when B.T. and two friends were allegedly drunk and unruly at a location at Siesta Key Beach. One of B.T.'s friends was arrested for disorderly intoxication but police reportedly told B.T. and his other friend to either go home or get thrown in jail. Officers say that the young men admitted to drinking a liter of rum as well as some whiskey earlier that day. The two opted to leave the area. Allegations state that B.T. got behind the wheel of his car and was involved in a non injury accident at one location before the second, fatal accident. Investigators state that B.T. was fleeing the scene of the other accident and reaching speeds of about 90 mph when he failed to navigate a curve in the road. The vehicle went out of control and onto the sidewalk hitting a number of signs and striking a 53-year-old woman who was jogging with her dog. His car then crashed into a telephone pole and another car. B.T.'s passenger was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries and the pedestrian, D.C., was pronounced dead at the scene. B.T. was arrested after a breathalyzer test gave a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) reading of 0.223 percent—nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Get the immediate representation of a criminal defense attorney if you have been charged with a DUI offense involving injury or death.

B.T. faced a number of serious felony charges associated with the fatal injury accident and was recently handed his sentence after accepting a plea deal. He pled no contest to seven of the charges against him including DUI manslaughter. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years in prison. He will be about 39 years old if he is released after serving the full prison sentence.

A Sarasota DUI Defense Lawyer may be able to Help with Your Case

DUI charges, whether misdemeanor or felony level, have serious repercussions so it is vital that you have skilled defense on your side. Please contact me at my firm, the Law Office of Wyndel G. Darville, today to discuss your case in a free initial consultation and find out how I may be able to fight the charges against you.