Bishop who killed cyclist while driving drunk gets 7 years

[trotsky]

Previous threads on this story:
Cycling Advocates Demand Md. Bishop Be Charged In Bicyclist’s Death
and
Bishop to be charged with manslaughter in death of cyclist Thomas Palermo

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/religion-news-34795221

BALTIMORE (AP) — A former Episcopal bishop who killed a bicyclist in Baltimore while driving drunk has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Heather Cook, who was the second ranking Episcopal bishop in Maryland, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter, drunken driving and leaving the scene. She fatally struck 41-year-old cyclist Tom Palermo on Dec. 27. The impact threw Palermo onto Cook's hood and into the windshield of her car. He died of severe blunt force trauma to the head, leaving behind a wife and two young children.

Prosecutors say Bishop Cook left the scene for 30 minutes before returning. She was texting when the accident occurred, and her blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent, almost three times the legal limit. The church asked for and received her resignation.

A judge sentenced Cook on Tuesday to 20 years with all but seven suspended. Prosecutors had asked for a 10-year prison term.

Not her first drunk driving offense. Killed a man with a young family. Left the scene. Gets 7 years, and will probably get out earlier than that. Justice served?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. She's out of a job and will spend years in the slam...

So, how much more do you think would be appropriate?

And why?

[Goblinmonger]

6. I don't think my comment has anything to do with religion

but this isn't enough. What we do in this country for drunk driving punishment isn't enough. I hope the victim's family wins a civil suit for enough money that this person, once they get out of jail all too soon, will need to work the rest of their life paying off that judgment. It needs to go beyond the limits of her insurance.

Seven year for killing someone because you drove drunk is not enough. People are in jail for longer than that for pot possession charges.

[trotsky]

7. How about the 20 years that killing someone and leaving the scene called for? n/t

[Yorktown]

8. Exceptionally, just this time, I'll defend a bishop

20 years for manslaughter is a bit high.

Manslaughter is the result of a foolish behavior (drunk driving)

Should be tested by psycho/sociologists, but 5 years no parole might teach the lesson?

With a lifetime of having to financially support the dependents of the deceased.

[trotsky]

9. 20 years is for the manslaughter plus leaving the scene.

(10 years for each.)

[Yorktown]

10. Gee, accused individuals should fear your court

You sure don't err on the side of leniency

[trotsky]

11. Not for drunk drivers, nope.

Recreational drug users, on the other hand...

[Yorktown]

13. I suppose I'm more lenient

Alcohol or pot are recreational substances which have roughly the same effect and should be legal.

If one is foolish enough to do something they shouldn't while IU (like D), and end up committing harm, the number of years in jail should teach a lesson.

But 20 years jail is a bit talionic. After 20 years, there is not much life left.

[cleanhippie]

14. Alcohol and cannabis have very different effects.

To compare the two as the same would be grounded in ignorance of the facts.

Now combining the two, OTOH....

[Yorktown]

16. How so?

To me, alcohol is gradual, cannabis more a threshold effect (binary: normal/little cloud)

No idea if it's the general case.

Anyway, I only tried cannabis episodically for a short period at U, so I'm no expert.

And I wouldn't go over the alcohol limit if I had to something to do, much less drive.

[cleanhippie]

20. I'll send you a PM

[Mariana]

12. Drunk driving is not just "foolish behavior".

It is criminal behavior. This bishop killed someone while she was committing the crime of driving drunk.

[Yorktown]

15. yada, yada, I read you

And I can understand the anger of people who lose someone because of a drunk driver.

But the driver commits something reckless and idiotic, not planning ahead to kill.

Spoiling the life of a fool for his foolishness doesn't seem productive to me.

5 years is a long time to ponder over a (very big) mistake.

Behavioral specialists could probably determine the appropriate penalty better.

[Mariana]

17. She's been caught driving drunk before.

She was given second chance then. She chose to drive drunk again and she killed someone.

[Yorktown]

18. Addiction is a disease

it's not more years in prison that will cure her.

I'll meet you halfway: 5 years prison + strict probation on drinking after release.

Deal, your Honor?

[Mariana]

19. Addiction is a disease.

Drunk driving is a crime. There are alcoholics who don't drive drunk, I'm related to some of them. Too bad she didn't decide to be one of them.

[stillwaiting]

3. I guess she didn't "suffer" from affluenza. Poor thing. She could have just gone to rehab then.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/05/us/texas-affluenza-teen/

It is very important for Americans to understand that if you are wealthy you don't have to suffer consequences like non-wealthy people. It's the way the country works! Isn't it the best?!?!

[HassleCat]

5. This is the real problem

MADD is busy campaigning for lowering the blood alcohol limit so police can arrest more "impaired" drivers. The real problem is, and has been for years, alcoholics who manage to fly - drive, actually - under the radar, in spite of having multiple previous convictions. They are difficult to detect, because alcoholics specialize in showing normal behavior while stone drunk. They're out there, every day, and we can't catch them.

[kwassa]

21. Aside from drunk driving, she has been defrocked.

Once she gets out of jail, she will have no career.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. I wondered at the time and still wonder if there are any deep pockets (aka The Church)...

... the family could go after.

Was she on company business with a church vehicle? Bishop is pretty high up there.