Courts can't keep New Kent man off roads despite DUI convictions

...and needs to stay there

Sounds like jail time is in order.

My question is how many DUI and killings are you allow in a lifetime before our laws step in and do the right thing.Our laws are set up to protect the public from slim like this. Another failure and death due to our sloppy wrtten laws. He should have never been on the road in the first place.

... won't make the O'Reilly Factor. It doesn't include an illegal alien. This guy's acts are just as heinous as that situation. I don't understand why those convicted of DUI aren't punished to the full extent of the law. This guy is armed with intent to kill every time he drives a car drunk and is the equivalent of a gangbanger with an unregistered handgun. Take his felonious rear and toss him in prison where he belongs!

Wow how is this Manslaughter? He's been pinched for multiple DUIs. As far as I'm concerned, it's pre-meditated murder.

SimplyGern wrote:

Some people should never be allowed cell phones.

And some people should shut up already.

"Burch was arrested on Dec. 11, 2003, and charged with driving under the influence in Henrico. The following March, he was found guilty and sentenced to a year behind bars with all but five days suspended" Isn't part of the "suspended" part a probation that can be revoked? Why wasn't it when he had so many convictions between 2001-2009? This multiple DUI, possession, reckless and driving on suspended seems to be common place with NO big penalty. I have seen a neighbors son do the same thing. He was let off with NO jail time after multiple DUI's and diving on suspended. One time (at age 24) the Suffolk PD even carried him home after clocking him 87 in a 55, DUI, diving on suspended and unauthorized use of his girlfriends car. The car was impounded (with drugs sitting on the seat) and the only charge he got was improper driving. I also saw him get sentenced to go through AA or some other drug programs to get his charges dropped only to later boast about how he only went once and then went back to court and had the charges dismissed having never completed the program. Maybe MADD needs to be concentrating on light sentences the courts give to first time and repeat offenders. Instead they seem to be trying to lower the BAC level or other method that does not remove the problem drinkers from the road. In NEARLY all the fatal or severe accidents caused by DUI, the drivers seem to be WAY OVER the limit, not just barely over the limit. It's time for the courts to follow-up on the PD's efforts to keep the roads safe and stop giving light sentences to what will eventually be murderers if not stopped.

gaw wrote:

Sounds like jail time is in order.

A hefty PRISON sentence is what he needs!!!

All my sympathy to the Mellis family -I understand your loss - How do you deal with a Mr. Burch ??- He has acted in a willfull reckless manner - this was not an "accident" - he should be incarcerated for many years -

SimplyGern wrote:

Some people should never be allowed cell phones.

I don't understand the cell phone reference. Enlighten me please?

I drove professionally for many years. After 10PM in Hampton the number of drunk drivers on the roads made the streets look like the "U-Dodge Them" concession in a carnival. Other communities will have to speak for themselves. The first time they are caught they are almost automatically sentenced to ASAP. The second time they go to jail on the weekends. The third time they sometimes get jail time. There are not enough cops; tax money goes elsewhere in Hampton.

If drunk drivers are sick, then lets help them. First, however, lets GET THEM OFF THE ROAD!

The cops should have shot this scum-bag, instead of arresting him. Would have saved everyone time, money are frustration. This moron doesn't care about anyone but himself. AFter your second DUI, the death penalty should be mandatory!

Where are MASB when you need them?
(Mothers against scum-bags)

This is so very sad for the young man's family. As for the cell phone reference--grow a brain. Not that the idiot will respond, but there's a study out there somewhere that showed talking on a cell phone is similar to driving while impaired. I don't remember the % level, but it was something relatively low. Driving drunk is bad enough, but another thing that scares me is the amount of people who text while driving.

In my local small town newspaper, they list the General District Court cases from the previous month...if there are 25 cases heard....it seems like on average that about 18 of those cases involve driving on a suspended license. If they broke the law in a manner that caused them to lose their driving permit in the first place WHAT makes the courts believe that these people won't break the law again? Suspending Licenses is a joke, tougher stance is needed. 1st DUI should land your azz in jail for 30 days.....PERIOD. 2nd DUI you should spend 365 days in the slammer. NO EARLY OUTS or SUSPENDED SENTENCES.

Christopher Mellis seems like he was a wonderful young man. What a nice tribute to him by those who knew him: "He was the type of person that would drop anything to help another person." I'm going to remember that the next time I'm rushed and overwhelmed and someone asks me if I can give them a hand. I'll give them a hand and a smile in honor of Christopher.

Another case where the only way to gaurantee that these pieces of @#$% don't keep repeating the same offense is to use the one tool that guarantees these heinous acts are not carried out continuously and that is the death penalty, i am tired of my hard earned tax money going to feeding and housing these scum (gangbangers included). I had an uncle convicted several times of DUI and I still feel this way, as soon as he got out of jail he went out got drunk and drove, resulting in another DUI, prison and slaps on the rist just don't cut the mustard, these people are useless and don't need to be around. Whiny liberals need not reply.

There is a way for the courts to keep him off the streets...send his ass to prison for about 30 years. This isn't a mistake he made, he made deadly and stupid decisions, and someone else paid with his life. The probation people screwed everyone on this case.

why is this guy still allowed to even have a vehicle? I know it's difficult and expensive but this guy needs to be making small rocks out of big rocks for the rest of his life.

Blame the JCC Commonwealth Attorney and the D M V.

This is unreal & an understatement for OUR driving laws.....S^ith....

Judge wrote:

<quoted text>I don't understand the cell phone reference. Enlighten me please?

It is simply a troll.