Teen gets probation, work-release for crash that killed 2 friends

What "kind of dog stuff is that! Kill him TOO!

Why was this kid driving a fancy sports car to begin with. I blame the parents.

Until liberal JUDGES like this are removed from the bench, there will be more deaths.

Very sad.

This is not justice. The kid clearly didn't learn his lesson, and apparently doesn't care to. What his criminal record will look like 10 years from now I can't even imagine. He should be locked up. Next time it could be your mother that he hits.

"Liberal" judges? You clod.

We protect cars and booze, that's no secret and is nothing new. Just thank heavens ecstacy or weed wasn't handed out at a party with this kid or he would've been looking at real time.

Is it me or was this sentence about the same as you'd get from doing 85 in the middle of tweedle-doo Illinois?

I work with one of this child's parents. Imagine if it were your child. Shame on you people! You don't know and can't even begin to know the pain.

The pain goes away, but he wont now he will be back on the streets. I lost a child and the pain does go away!

joe blow wrote:

Why was this kid driving a fancy sports car to begin with. I blame the parents.

To a great extent, I agree with you. I'm somewhat a car buff, so I'm pretty well informed when it comes to cars and what they are capable of doing. You have cars out today, like the Subaru WRXs, that are as fast to 60mph as a mid-1990s Lamborghini. Yet, in the mid-90s, the Lambo was over $150k, whereas the WRX today is around $30k.

I can say though, that as much information as we give parents about laws, restrictions and requirements for teen drivers, parents are not adequately educated on the cars available. There are a LOT of parents who are simply unaware of what some of these cars (especially smaller, 4-cylinder cars) are capable of. So, while I do agree that some responsibility lies with the parents in this regard, there's also, IMO, an industry and a governmental responsibility to inform parents of what's out there. We require dietary information to be published on the side of food, why not a similar breakdown for cars, so parents (and other consumers) are aware of what they are getting into?

When I was a teenager, I made my share of reckless choices on the road...and I drove an '85 Ford Escort. You give a kid a car like a Trans Am, you're asking for trouble...even if the kid is generally "responsible." Kids do dumb things when they're out there with their friends. I know...I was one of them...

Mike wrote:

Until liberal JUDGES like this are removed from the bench, there will be more deaths.
Very sad.

Judge Phillips was appointed by Chief Judge Stark, who is a Republican.

Nice try, but too bad your assumptions are wrong.

A Friend wrote:

I work with one of this child's parents. Imagine if it were your child. Shame on you people! You don't know and can't even begin to know the pain.

I'm sure the parents of the 'DEAD' children are saying shame on you for defending this young man's actions. He made a mistake but it was a deadly one. We have to teach our children that they can't expect to be able to charm their why through life. This isn't like cheating on a test. He can't bring his two friends back. When he made a stupid choice he opened the door for folks on this board to criticize that choice. I'm sure his parents are hurting for what he is going through but they still have him.

Mena wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm sure the parents of the 'DEAD' children are saying shame on you for defending this young man's actions. He made a mistake but it was a deadly one. We have to teach our children that they can't expect to be able to charm their why through life. This isn't like cheating on a test. He can't bring his two friends back. When he made a stupid choice he opened the door for folks on this board to criticize that choice. I'm sure his parents are hurting for what he is going through but they still have him.

I didn't see any "defense" in that comment, just someone merely suggesting that the family of the accused has felt pain as well. Heaven forbid that someone suggest that the pain is not reserved to the "victims" here.

Furthermore, the kid took a "blind plea." His sentence was entirely up to the court. He did not do a plea bargain; he walked into court and pleaded guilty. He took as much responsibility as an individual can take in a court of law; the penalty was in the court's hands.

I hope your vilification makes YOU feel better about yourself, because frankly, I don't see any other point in doing so here.

White kid gets probation for killing two after driving drunk. Any other race gets jail time. Wonderful system of justice.

People need to start taking responsibility for their actions. If he violated his probation with drugs and alcohol, who's to say he won't do it again? If his mother is worried about this "terrible burden" he will have to carry, imagine what the other families are feeling.

A Friend wrote:

I work with one of this child's parents. Imagine if it were your child. Shame on you people! You don't know and can't even begin to know the pain.

Pain, you dont know pain, yes this family has to live with this burden. But this family still has a son while the other two families have lost their sons. So the pain will ease for drivers family and they will go on. Will the families that lost theirs sons pain go away - NEVER

I'm a friend of the drivers. I've known him through this whole thing,Richard is a good kid with a lot of potential. He didn't deliberately kill his best friends. He cant even talk about it without crying. You people should be ashamed of yourselves to send a young kid, 18 years old, to prison. For something that he didnt want or even try to have happen. He used drugs to cover up his feelings and escape from the reality and people like you. If one of the other kids were driving you would have said the same thing about that person. Ricky I love you man, you'll be fine, keep up the good work and keep your head on straite this time.

by the way THE KID WAS COMPLETELY SOBER! so get ur facts straite people.

While I agree that Richard will have to live with the fact that it is his fault that his friends are now dead, I do not agree that his violations of his bonds should have been ignored by the judge. This is a clear message to this young man that he can 'say' he is sorry, put on a good performance in court, but not adhere to the law, as he ignored the speed limit laws when he killed his friends. It is a disgrace to the families that he is allowed such a light sentence when he continues to ignore the law and conditions of his punishment. His actions speak louder then his words!

TOM SLICK wrote:

White kid gets probation for killing two after driving drunk. Any other race gets jail time. Wonderful system of justice.

Yes you are so right and the comments on this blog would be different too

Steve wrote:

What "kind of dog stuff is that! Kill him TOO!

steve,I just wounder,NO you didnt ever speed when you were a kid or drive over a a hill to get the feeling of losing your tummy did you,NO not steve,OH steve I'll bet your one of those guy's like BILLERY who didnt inhale or has never driven a car 24 hour after drinking or heaven forbid smoking a joint right!I'm sorry JESUS I mean steve if all society was as forgiving as you well we would be Islamic Extreamist and it sounds like you would be the head of the taliban.WAKE UP1

Facts,It never stops amazing me how people are so quick to Judge others based on the media.Example The kids from Duke charged and convicted in the media as wealthy kids gang raping a woman and we we're all outraged!Well we find out that not only did the woman by her own addmission LIE But we found out that the State leading Prosecuter Lied and knew that these kid s we're not involved in any such behavior.I just wonder for all who we're quick to judge and convict and you know who you are have you sent letters of appoligy to those kids or letters of condimnation to the media,more importantly have you learned anything from it?Can you imagin the pain and suffering involved in being accused of a crime you did not commit keep this in mind for the next posting which I promise you won't want to miss.