Judge throws out Baker's plea bargain sentence

"...reportedly speeding on Aug. 31, 2007, and under the influence of drugs and alcohol..."

If you get into a car with such a person, you take your life into your own hands, or rather, the hands of the impaired driver. So, if he's guilty, let him stew in jail, but don't give these parents one cent in any potential future trial seeking punitive damages.

He kills four people and they plea bargain it to 10 years?
WTF!
He ought to do life or get the death sentence himself.

Good call Judge.

Another victim in the American culture of death.

Hang 'em

My son was friends with all those young people that died. He absolutely had no intent to harm anyone in his life, let alone anyone of his friends that night. They were all in this together and in the same condition. They had been in the same condition many times before, and not with each other, but also with other friends. That night was the night that it became the worst decision of their lives. The other parents need to look into deeply into themselves and know that Cody is no different than their own child, and that he was making some bad decisions in his own life like their child was. I know in their hearts they do not want this to go to trial as then their lives, and their child’s lives will be opened up and examined by the world just like Cody’s life is being. The truth is that their toxology reports were as bad or worse than Cody’s. That is no excuse for any of them. Does this make me want to think that their loss of life is any less important? Of course not. Do I think that their parent loved them any less because they know that their child was in a place in their lives that they weren’t making good decisions right now? Of course not again. Do I understand that people always want to find someone to blame when we can’t accept the truth, and move forward from there. Do we all know that they all made a bad decision that night? Yes. The pain is so great for all of us right now. It doesn’t help that people outside of the immediate families feel so compelled to throw their two cents in and want to keep the families at a fevered pitch. People on both sides seem to be spreading stories about all the families involved that just aren’t true and, just add to the pain and anger. I have heard that people are making death threats on Cody’s life. Is that a solution? Are they trying to make everybody pick a side in this matter? Yes they are. There are no sides people. It is a problem in our society we all are facing and will continue too, unless we chose to make a difference. All that the outside people are succeeding in doing, is not allowing the families to get to the next stage of their grief. Unfortunately it is human nature to want to strike out and hurt somebody for the pain we are feeling inside ourselves. Until you personally walked a mile in somebody else’s shoes, you have no basis to know what they are going through. Cody will pay a big price for the rest of his life. The people who have had this same thing happen to them are the only people who truly know that the time served is not the only permanent scar he will wear for the rest of his life. All I can do is offer my greatest sympathy and sorrow for all the parents, family and friends that lost a love one in this tragedy that reoccurs way to frequently in our society. We are all hurting tremendously and will for ever wear this scar in our hearts, for all of our children, me included. Although it may not seem like it compared to your loss, I have lost a part of my son as well. His life will be forever changed. My life, and his family and close friends lives, will be forever changed.
I ask the parents of the young adults who died in this tragedy to come together with me and let’s find a way to make a difference in other people’s lives. We can honor your children’s lives by using this as a spring board to institute changes so that we may save young lives in the future. That can only happen when you’re ready, and possibly willing. What would your child want you to do?
To be continued on next post:

Their will be many comments posted like the one below.
Bernard Fokke
Arcata, CA
He kills four people and they plea bargain it to 10 years?
WTF!
He ought to do life or get the death sentence himself.
Good call Judge
Do we really think that is going to save another parent the grief and sorrow that we are all experiencing even if Cody got that sentence? Cody is not trying to get out of this. He knows there will be a price of prison time for his actions. Will that make anyone of you aware that this can happen to your child some day? Are you going to stop drinking and driving? Are young people going to look at Cody’s sentence and make better decisions? They haven’t in the past yet. Did other people going through this very same tragedy make enough of an impact in our children’s lives that they didn’t end up where they did? There have been countless young people that have died in this same manner for years. Have we made any changes in the way we handled it? No. I don’t claim to have the answers myself.
If I tell you the sorrow Cody feels and that he wants to make changes in others lives now, and when he does get out of prison, does it just sound like I am beating my own drum. A lot of you will think so. I can’t help that. Believe me when I say that I am not only sad for my son but for all the families involved. There is a choice to be made. Either stay splintered apart and defend our beliefs to the end, or come together and try to make some positives out of this horrible tragedy.
I love my son.

This should have preceded the previous post...
My son was friends with all those young people that died. He absolutely had no intent to harm anyone in his life, let alone anyone of his friends that night. They were all in this together and in the same condition. They had been in the same condition many times before, and not with each other, but with other friends. That night was the night that it became the worst decision of their lives. The other parents need to look into deeply into themselves and know that Cody is no more evil, and that he was making some bad decisions in his own life like their child was. I know in their hearts they do not want this to go to trial as then their lives, and their child’s lives will be opened up and examined by the world just like Cody’s life is being. The truth is that they had more drugs and alcohol in them than Cody did. Does this make me want to think that their loss of life is any less important? Of course not. Do I think that their parent loved them any less because they know that their child was in a place in their lives that they weren’t making good decisions right now? Of course not again. Do I understand that people always want to find someone to blame when we can’t accept the truth, and move forward from there. Do we all know that they all made a bad decision that night? Yes. The pain is so great for all of us right now. It doesn’t help that people outside of the immediate families feel so compelled to throw their two cents in and want to keep the families at a fevered pitch. People on both sides seem to be spreading stories about all the families involved that just aren’t true and, just add to the pain and anger. Are they trying to make everybody pick a side in this matter? Yes they are. There are no sides people. It is a problem in our society we all are facing and will continue too unless we chose to make a difference. All they are succeeding in doing is not allowing the families to get to the next stage of their grief. Unfortunately it is human nature to want to strike out and hurt somebody for the pain we are feeling inside ourselves. Until you personally walked a mile in somebody else’s shoes, you have no basis to know what they are going through. Cody will pay a big price for the rest of his life. The people who have had this same thing happen to them are the only people who truly know that the time served is not the only permanent scar he will wear for the rest of his life. All I can do is offer my greatest sympathy and sorrow for all the parents, family and friends that lost a love one in this tragedy that reoccurs way to frequently in our society. We are all hurting tremendously and will for ever wear this scar in our hearts, for all of our children, me included. Although it may not seem like it compared to your loss, I have lost a part of my son as well. His life will be forever changed.
I ask the parents of the young adults who died in this tragedy to come together with me and let’s find a way to make a difference in other people’s lives. We can honor your children’s lives by using this as a spring board to institute changes so that we may save young lives in the future. That can only happen when you’re ready, and possibly willing.

Brilliant bargaining. This guy deserves life imprisonment, with a weekly waterboarding.

I too lost a child to a drunk driver but, it was not my child that made a choice to get into the vehicle with an impaired driver. My child's vehicle was hit by a drunk driver. The pain never goes away but, it does get easier with time. My only concern her is that yes, Baker made some really bad decisions the night of the accident and in his past. But, I have a hard time seeing him being charged with 4 counts of murder!! These kids all made bad decisions on this horiffic night. They all made the decision (that I am sure all of their parents had preached to them NOT TO DO; which was to get into a car with someone who has been drinking). They all put their lives at stake when they did that. Yes, Baker should be punished.... I see a manslaughter but, murder NO... I hope not to come across as calus because I do understand the MAGNITUDE of your lose. Everyone needs to understand that not only one person involved that night made the wrong choice. My heart is sick for all. Be strong and understanding in these weeks to come.

Where were the parents when the lessons NOT to do these things? My parents ground it into my head and I am thankful for that. Good parenting prevents these things from happening, not severe punishments. Why were they so drunk? Why did they knowingly get behind the wheel? Why did they knowingly get into a vehilce where the chance of death was likely? To all the other parents, don't back down, TALK TO YOUR DAMN KIDS BEFORE THEY KILL SOMEONE OR THEMSELVES!!!!! I look around this small area and see parents who are too busy, or do the "just don't do it" speech because they think talking about it will make it happen, or they just "pray" for their kids, or they themselves have a problem and don't care. Stop pointing fingers and look in the mirror people.

Sounds like the Judge is grandstanding. Watch he run for something soon!

are you all so old that you have forgotten that the youth feel invincible and above harm, its in their heads that bad things wont happen to them.

After he is in jail, for however long the judge determines Cody Baker will be incarcerated, who, besides the families involved will remember the events that caused this tragedy ?

Prison will get him off the streets, or rather make sure that Baker will not be behind the wheel of a vehicle for a very long time, yet, that will not prevent the next person with a lack of common sense to do a similar act.

It is not an acceptable caveat for the producers of spirits to say DRINK RESPONSIBLY and leave it at that.

Perhaps if the producers of such spirits were held accountable for the ill effects of their product society would benefit from such accountability.

Cody Baker, like so many others, is the end result of a profit motive of a manufactured product that truly serves no useful purpose in society. Stupidity and lack of common sense is enhanced by such a product and anyone, who can be honest with themselves, knows that being drunk indeed makes one stupid.

Whatever product Baker was drinking that fateful day should dig into their treasure chest of profits and be legally bound to make their reparation for the damage that their product creates.

A suggestion for the judge, all of the following should be done, and paid for by the manufacturer of the spirit Baker was consuming :

1. A re-enactment video made with Baker to be distributed to every high school in the Nation.

2. A re-enactment film made and aired on network television.

3. A lifetime sponsorship of Cody Baker to speak at every high school in the nation concerning the TRUTH about what led to this tragedy.

In addition Baker should not ever be allowed to get behind the wheel of a vehicle again.

This would become Cody Baker’s life, a minimal existence, very much like prison, however, the remainder of his life would serve a utility to society, in that, he would be a constant reminder of what happens when one does not DRINK RESPONSIBLY for all those who may think they can do so without repercussion.

To the family members :

What do you think your children would consider punishment for Cody Baker in causing their death ?

Perhaps it is the time where society makes the producers of alcohol responsible for THEIR actions ?

I have no personal interest in this case. I read about the accident and the families in the Ferndale Enterprise. I see drunk driving deaths in our San Diego papers often. Never any effect of sentencing on rate of occurrence. Is Humboldt any different? Families still heavy on mourning, light on control of reckless driving. We call these deaths "thinning the herd". Cruel but realistic.

There are programs here that present drunk driving, dead bodies, wrecked cars to young drivers. Mostly in simulations with makeup. It seems to have a momentary impression. Perhaps some of the driving schools could be paid to really get this sort of presentation with video, pictures of the bodies in the morgue, with drug levels indicated in terms of alcohol, drug types. Probably a wastne of time.

They all forgot to use their heads. But they all have followed their parents actions. Have a party.
This is a sad time for all. The kids still party and think it won't happen to them.

Wow, "thinning the herd" is very cruel words for these families. You've made your point but, really must you use such heartless comments? Would you use the same cruelness if it was your child or one of their friends that was killed? I think not. Please choose your words with a little more thought in the future. You have no idea what words can do to people with broken hearts!!

Lindsey Lohan worked at the morgue and emergency room as part of her sentencing due to misdemeanor drunken driving, perhaps a lifetime service with death related accidents might even the odds.

Cody will have to wait longer before he can drive drunk again.

Yes, there are many irresponsible parents whose actions children mimic. But there are just as many responsible parents, and the sad truth is, adolescents and people in their 20's DO have a tendency to feel invincible. Too many times, teens follow their peers, rather than their parents or other wise people in their circle; it's an unfortunate side effect of public-school education, where one's peer group is the people one's age, rather than one's family and social circle, which includes people of ALL ages and experience levels.

My point? Don't just blame parents. Coming from a family of alcoholics myself, I hammered it into both my children's minds: don't drink; your brain is still developing, and drinking affects it in a very different way from the way it affects an adult's brain. Don't ever get into a car with someone who's been drinking. When you do come of age, don't drink to excess. Don't ever lose control, and don't ever put your life in someone else's hands. Interestingly, my son, who isn't the "academic" type, dropped out of high school, and at one point was involved with some dubious friends, took my lessons to heart. On the other hand, my daughter, who's graduating from high school and heading to a JC, with a clear idea of what she wants to do in the future, has had drinking issues for the last two years, and she and I have had a horrible time because of it.

Same parent, same message. Why did one listen, and the other one had to learn the hard way?