i-495 crash

All that bum got was 6 mos.? Another reason judges need to elected, and held accountable.

When will corrupt system ever get changed?

justice fails wrote:

All that bum got was 6 mos.? Another reason judges need to elected, and held accountable.
When will corrupt system ever get changed?

Hey JF,
Six mos is the mandatory min sentencing. The actual length of his sentence will be determined in February.

justice fails wrote:

All that bum got was 6 mos.? Another reason judges need to elected, and held accountable.
When will corrupt system ever get changed?

How does a perceived bad judgment equate to corruption?

I hope he spends plenty of time in the can. Most people have no idea how much pain these victims have and will continue to endure. Their lives will never be the same. They recieved a life sentence.

Hello????????? does anyone notice he was 19??? oh yea I forgot you can drink at any age.. Hopefully he will have learned his lesson, and will be puinished accordingly

I think it is despicable that this kid doesn't get it and is trying to say the women's vehicle was stopped in the middle lane. One of the girls is a relative of mine and she will carry the emotional and pysical scars for the rest of her life. This boy's family should be grateful no one was killed and let him take the fall out now and maybe learn a lesson before he does more serious damage!!

This kid is only 19 years old. Everyone makes mistakes, some bigger than others. Although there is no excuse for it, do you really think doing time will help this kid? I have no idea who he is or what type of life he lead but throwing him in jail is only going to ruin his future and have him live a life of trouble.

Well said, Tony.

I am not condoning the poor decision to drink and drive. However, no one who reads articles like this know Seth Lattrell and his family. They are wonderful people; it is a shame and absolutely sad that his name has been tarnished considering all the good he has done in his life and will continue to do. I understand Seth must serve punishment for his actions, but this is absolutely an absurd punishment- if you knew Seth, you would appreciate how it is nearly impossible to visualize someone with such an outgoing personality and giving heart in JAIL. Do not defame him and make him sound like some kind of vicious animal that has been roaming the streets for 20 years looking to hurt people. This is not some "bum". Think of the scars left on him and his family; this event has forever changed the lives of everyone involved in Seth's life. You say he can "maybe learn a lesson before he does more serious damange." Seth had nothing but positive goals and plans for the future. Seth Lattrell is such an amazing person, I only hope he can stay inspired and continue his life when this sentencing is through. Knowing Seth, he will. He is not "despicable"; he absolutely "gets it" and has such a bigger heart than any news article or news clip showcases. Remember.. the media has a funny way of manipulating things.

How is Seth such a wonderful person that when the medics were trying to extricate these 4 girls, not two, from the wrecked car he was trying to hide beer. Imagine if he had killed any one of these girls, they all have husbands, children, parents, siblings,nieces,nephews,aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. How devastated the whole bunch would be because he made a stupid mistake. I know he is a kid and everyone does stupid things but everyone has plans and goals for the future. It's not like we've never heard of things like this happening. These women have big hearts too and through no fault of their own they have lasting scars and damage. Thankfully they are alive. How would his
family feel if he kills someone the next time. If he doesn't pay a price now there will be a next time. There are consequences to bad decisions, what makes him better than anyone else? He has a giving heart, where is he giving empathy to these women and owning up to what he did. I am not saying he intended to hurt anyone that night but he did cause serious injury and if it
were truly an accident without the drinking it would be different. I hope he does have a good future after he pays the price. These women all have outgoing personalities, and are amazing people too. Don't push the victims aside because you feel sorry for him. This won't affect them for the rest of their lives? If he has done so much good people will recognize that and get past it, AFTER he has served a punishment.

No one is saying he should not receive any type of punishment. All thats said is jail the best way to show a kid he made a huge mistake and now for the rest of his life it were hurt him just trying to get a job? Why not hundreds of hours of community service? This kid will also have to live with this for the rest of his life! Once again I honestly do not know who he is. All i will say is for all those out there you really think it could not happen to you? So many people drink and drive. Maybe not meaning too but there has been a time in most peoples life that drink that really should not of gotten into the car. If this kid was a life long alcoholic or had numerous OUI's then yes jail is the way. However, he is young and obviously made a huge mistake. Having him out in the community doing work, possibly talking with other kids to prevent this again is a better punishment!

Tony wrote:

This kid is only 19 years old. Everyone makes mistakes, some bigger than others. Although there is no excuse for it, do you really think doing time will help this kid? I have no idea who he is or what type of life he lead but throwing him in jail is only going to ruin his future and have him live a life of trouble.

the short answer:
If I was stupid enough to drink and drive, cause an accident with extensive bodily harm, I would certainly learn from THAT.
Maybe it's just me, but, I would face the punishment and accept full responsibility for my actions.

He knew the consequences of drinking and driving but did it anyway.

Jail is the punishment.

To change his behavior comes from within himself.

Drinking and driving should be punished with jail. There is no excuse. Even if this kid is a model citizen, he chose to drink (underage) and get behind the wheel of a vehicle. And, exactly what is expected when you drink and drive, happened. He caused an accident. This isn't about a "mistake". A mistake is something you make that doesn't affect the lives of other people. This was a poor decision that DID affect other people. They have to live with the pain, they have to live with HIS decision to drink and drive. You can't sit there and say he was a "model citizen, and a really great kid", but yet, ignored all media, friends, family, educators, billboards, tv advertisements, etc.. that TOLD HIM NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE, not to mention that he was underage. Great kids, model citizens, do not BREAK THE LAW, and by driving while intoxicated is breaking the law, and drinking under the age of 21 is BREAKING THE LAW.
He deserves jail time.

Tony wrote:

No one is saying he should not receive any type of punishment. All thats said is jail the best way to show a kid he made a huge mistake and now for the rest of his life it were hurt him just trying to get a job? Why not hundreds of hours of community service? This kid will also have to live with this for the rest of his life! Once again I honestly do not know who he is. All i will say is for all those out there you really think it could not happen to you? So many people drink and drive. Maybe not meaning too but there has been a time in most peoples life that drink that really should not of gotten into the car. If this kid was a life long alcoholic or had numerous OUI's then yes jail is the way. However, he is young and obviously made a huge mistake. Having him out in the community doing work, possibly talking with other kids to prevent this again is a better punishment!

so basically, what you are saying is, let him get caught multiple times while drinking and driving, let him cause numerous accidents with injuries, maybe throw in a few DUI convictions THEN, AND ONLY THEN does he deserve jail?? maybe that is what is wrong with this system! First offense should be such that they DON'T DO IT AGAIN!!!

I have been reading all the posts and I understand the emotions involved.

In my opinion a felony conviction and 6 months in jail is more than enough for a correction in behavior for an otherwise "good kid"

I think people who want a longer sentence are looking for revenge not justice

trying to be fair wrote:

I have been reading all the posts and I understand the emotions involved.
In my opinion a felony conviction and 6 months in jail is more than enough for a correction in behavior for an otherwise "good kid"
I think people who want a longer sentence are looking for revenge not justice

correction of behavior comes from within the individual, not from the sentence served.

if it is 6 days, 6 months or 6 years; being held itself does nothing to change the behavior. Changes to behavior come from within the person who is motivated to make the change.

a person can be sentenced to community service, jail or counseling; change will only occur if the individual is receptive and committed to making that happen.

this kid needs to confront himself and come to terms with what he has done. length of jail sentence will not promote or encourage that. Only HE can bring about the change that would hopefully find him modeling good behavior and embracing the concept of personal responsibility

If he was hiding beer while the victims were in need of assistance, he is the last person I want speaking to young adults and teens about alcohol abuse.

a rational friend wrote:

Well said, Tony.
I am not condoning the poor decision to drink and drive. However, no one who reads articles like this know Seth Lattrell and his family. They are wonderful people; it is a shame and absolutely sad that his name has been tarnished considering all the good he has done in his life and will continue to do. I understand Seth must serve punishment for his actions, but this is absolutely an absurd punishment- if you knew Seth, you would appreciate how it is nearly impossible to visualize someone with such an outgoing personality and giving heart in JAIL. Do not defame him and make him sound like some kind of vicious animal that has been roaming the streets for 20 years looking to hurt people. This is not some "bum". Think of the scars left on him and his family; this event has forever changed the lives of everyone involved in Seth's life. You say he can "maybe learn a lesson before he does more serious damange." Seth had nothing but positive goals and plans for the future. Seth Lattrell is such an amazing person, I only hope he can stay inspired and continue his life when this sentencing is through. Knowing Seth, he will. He is not "despicable"; he absolutely "gets it" and has such a bigger heart than any news article or news clip showcases. Remember.. the media has a funny way of manipulating things.

those "scars" are self-inflicted.

HE chose the path that led him HERE

Tell me what the media has "manipulated" here.

If people don't understand that drinking and driving is serious enough to warrant jail time and the possibiliy of ruining your life forever what is to prevent them from doing it. This is the first time he has goten CAUGHT. I'm curious if he has done this in the past. There are laws for a reason. You want to tell this boy it's okay to do the wrong thing a couple of times, you will only be inconvenienced? What about the VICTIMS!!! They did nothing wrong. I don't believe anyone is being vindictive, they just want justice. He waived a jury trial so it is up to a judge to sentence him. He is no better than anyone else. He chose his fate when he got behind the wheel, those women didn't. This is not the end of the world for him. He can learn a lesson and move on. Don't forget he won't own up to what he did. He is blaming the victims.

this kid needs to confront himself and come to terms with what he has done. length of jail sentence will not promote or encourage that. Only HE can bring about the change that would hopefully find him modeling good behavior and embracing the concept of personal responsibility

What makes you think this has not already taken place. This kid has always been a responsible hardworking kid who has never been in trouble. Beyond the victims of the car crash his own family is devastated. The boy was an honor roll student hoping to go to law school which can now never happen. I have known this boy since he was 8 years old and there isn't a bad bone in his body.

He should have thought of all of that before getting behind the wheel. The victims and their families are not devastated? They have homes and had jobs. They suffered loss of income, the ability to care for their children while they recovered. How has he modeled good behavior when he won't own up to what he did? It was an accident, but one he caused. I don't know how he would get through law school when he can't learn from all the data, ads, speakers etc. that we all have been hearing about for years that drinking and driving is DANGEROUS and against the LAW!! Making a mistake doesn't mean he is a bad person but in my opinion he has no integrity which means a lot more in life than a jail sentence.

Judy

"It was an accident, but one he caused."

Just what do you feel is a fair sentence for this twenty years?

Is this about revenge or justice?