Rodriguez Gets 5 Life SentencesBARTOW -- "Polk Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance told Juan Rodriguez he would never witness the memorable moments of his unborn son's life.
Durrance sentenced the 26-year-old Lake Wales man Thursday to five consecutive life sentences for his part in the fiery three-car crash that killed five Winter Haven youths in 2003.
"Life is full of choices," Durrance said. "We make choices every day -- some good and some bad. You made a series of bad choices."
A little about this judge, Jail Dale or the Hanging JudgeHeavy Sentences Are Not Out Of the Norm for Judge DurranceSNIP.."BARTOW -- Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance didn't get the nickname "Jail Dale" by accident.
On Thursday, Durrance sentenced a man involved in a 2003 Winter Haven car crash that killed five people to five consecutive life sentences. He then lectured Juan Rodriguez, reminding him about all the things he won't get to do with his unborn son.
It's hardly the first time a defendant has felt Durrance's heavy hand. The 10th circuit judge early in his 25-year career gained a reputation for doling out heavy sentences. Among Durrance's more colorful episodes was in 1987 at the sentencing of a woman convicted of trafficking cocaine.
After he gave Catherine Grover 11 years in prison, Durrance read aloud in the courtroom an 88-line poem called "Cat with Nine Lies" that he wrote for the occasion.
In 1984, he rendered a judgment against a witness who wasn't even a party to a lawsuit. After hearing the testimony, Durrence summarily excused the original defendant, named the witness as a defendant and entered a judgment against her for $566......."END SNIP
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