5 life sentences for vehicular manslaughter.

[madfloridian]

Rodriguez Gets 5 Life Sentences

BARTOW -- "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 Judge
Heavy Sentences Are Not Out Of the Norm for Judge Durrance

SNIP.."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

[madfloridian]

1. Some letters to the editors today about this sentencing.

I am Juan Ivan Rodriguez's father.

"I am Juan Ivan Rodriguez's father -the father of a man who was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences for a crime that he did not commit and sentenced like an animal instead of the human being that he is. That to me seems to be another case a racism.

We Puerto Ricans are also Americans and human beings. If we were not, then why are we serving this country. I defended this country in Vietnam and my other son is defending this country, and has been for the past 13 years in the Navy -- three of those years in the Persian Gulf. This town knows it and comments about it...."

Other letters at the link, snips from them.

"I would like to say I agree with Mae O. Lee, whose letter appeared April 7 <"Driver's Five Life Sentences in Deadly Crash Is Injustice"> concerning the five life sentences given to Juan Rodriguez. It is not justice. It's 100 percent unjust.

It sounded like the man who made the illegal left turn is what caused the three cars to crash. Maybe not, but maybe the crash would not have happened....."

"This was a terrible tragedy and we grieve for the lives lost, but the duty of the court is to look beyond emotion and deliver justice for all the parties involved in the case.

Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance substituted anger for reason and delivered revenge. Durrance's actions should send a shiver down all of our spines....."

[siliconefreak]

2. he's in an appropriate part of the country

It's Bush country, through and through. Neanderthal-thinking is the rule of the day.

I just looked at the website for circuit judges in his area - broken links all over the damn site. No surprise, really. Red-staters don't care much for technology or progress. Look at the Freep site for proof of this.

[Richard Steele]

3. This "Judge" is insane!

SNIP:
"In 1984, Durrance sentenced a man who was convicted of violating Auburndale's animal control ordinance to 15 days in jail, six months of probation and a $547 fine.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals threw out the jail time and sent the man back to Durrence for resentencing. This time, Durrance gave him the maximum sentence -- 60 days in jail. He also made him restart his probation, which had been completed during the appeal process."

This asshat should NOT be riding a bench.

[Mz Pip]

4. Bush will probably

zero in on this creep for his next judicial appointment.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[elehhhhna]

5. What a nutjob! More, from the linked article:

In 1987, he sentenced an inmate in a work-release program to 15 years behind bars for bringing eight cans of beer into a corrections facility on Christmas Eve.

In 1989, he jailed his cousin. He ordered the Fort Meade man held in jail on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct. A legal expert interviewed at the time said Durrance should have stayed out of a case involving a relative.

Many of his sentences were overturned by appellate judges. Between 1987 and 1989, the Lakeland-based 2nd District Court of Appeal issued 48 opinions on Durrance's cases, with 18 reversals. That's more than one-third of his cases -- 37.5 percent.

[elehhhhna]

6. The driver of the white car got 6 m onths? He caused the accident!

The harsher-than-expected sentence concluded a painful period for both families that began in the early-morning hours of Feb. 15, 2003, when Rodriguez raced his black 1991 Acura against a red 1996 Dodge Neon.

At the intersection of Sixth Street and Avenue D Northwest, a white Oldsmobile made an illegal left turn in front of the cars about 12:15 a.m., prosecutors said.

The three cars crashed, killing the five people in the Neon: Michael White, 22; Stephen Casey, 19; Steven Geiger, 18; Katelynn Bieber, 17; and Cansus Scheck, 16.

Toxicology reports concluded all three drivers had blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit. Had White, who was driving the Neon, survived the crash, he too would have been charged, prosecutors said.

After a weeklong trial, a jury convicted Rodriguez Feb. 4 on five counts of DUI manslaughter and five counts of reckless driving.

Co-defendant Raul Perez, 40, who was driving the white Oldsmobile, was found guilty of a lesser charge of driving under the influence and sentenced to six months in jail.

[LisaL]

7. Apparently, the guy in white care wasn't the one racing, according to the

to the article you provided.
So, he wouldn't be charged with reckless driving, I guess.

[elehhhhna]

8. He was DRUNK and made the illegal turn that caused the crash!

[toymachines]

9. tragic accident...stupid judge

is it me, or does government just make things worse. especially lately.

[depakid]

10. I'd like to know what's wrong with Florida

Is it something in the water?

I'm half serious here. There are more downright bizarre things coming out of that state than any two states or three states or even regions with similar populations sizes.

There's a collective insanity in Florida- I've felt it when I've been there- and from the looks of things- from the sheer number of outrages I hear- it's only been getting worse.

[madfloridian]

11. We are scary. I agree.

I can't blame it all on the Republicans, but nearly all of it I can blame on them. They are in such total control that the Democrats have no say.

[New Dealer]

12. I don't understand...

Is this what happened?

The guy with 5 life sentences was racing a car with 5 people, when another car made an illegal left turn in front of them, causing them to crash. The driver of the car who made the left turn only got 6 months. All 3 drivers were drunk.

If that's the case, I would support a harsh sentence for the two surviving drivers, but nothing close to life. Ten years maybe.

[BringEmOn]

13. Vehicular homocide....no charges