Drunk Driving Killers

[jilly]

When will Mecklenburg County crack down on drunk driving killers? Did anyone see this article? THIS KID KILLED SOMEONES DAUGHTER AND HE IS ONLY SERVING 3 MONTHS! What is wrong with this picture? I am outraged by this, is anyone else?

A young man involved in a deadly drunken driving accident reached a plea deal with prosecutors Thursday.

Kyle Heaberlin was 19 when police say he drove drunk in March and collided with a car driven by 26-year-old Janine Kelker on Weddington Road. Kelker died in the crash.

Heaberlin pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and driving after consuming alcohol under the age of 21. He'll serve three months in jail, three months on house arrest and three years probation.

KILLER who got away with murder:

[bk]

this is ridiculous
I had better rules back in elementary school

[Sarah Emerson]

That is not even a slap on the hand. I know the family of that girl are in agony. It is time for the community to stand up and say no more. Crimes must be dealt with a strong arm, Charlotte does not have strong leadership. It is an outrage this young man is getting away with murder. No matter the age of a criminal , that person should be punished, he chose to drink and drive, but the system says he is not responsible for his actions. He will do it again. No accountability, what is to stop him.
The police do their job, the problem is liberal judges, weak DA's. They are the ones who will not punish criminals, they throw them back into society to hurt again and again. I believe we cannot depend on the justice system to protect citizens. The people go to the polls, vote and what do you get, nothing better. Crime is up in Charlotte and the surrounding areas, they can't handle it so they drop the ball on society. Tax dollars are spent on a failed education system, entitlement programs which breed criminals, entertainment. People are being murdered, to the judges and DA these murders have a number, no name, no life, no family. Each victim has a family who suffers and then the justice system fails them and they have to live without justice.
An eye for any eye, a life for a life.

[Dani]

I don't agree with the eye for an eye term.

But I do agree, he should be serving a great deal more.
3 Months? It makes me sick to my stomach. If I were the family of the girl, I'd have a petition and I'd be raising hell.

[Abby52779]

I am the sister of Janine who was the victim. She was not only my sister but my best friend. It is extremely hard to even put into words what she meant to me or what my family goes through on a daily basis.

Yes, he only got 3 months which does outrage me because why should he get to move on after killing someone? 3 months is the length of a summer vacation we used to get as kids. They call it "involuntary" manslaughter, but didn't he voluntarily get behind the wheel that night? I'm sure no one forced him to do it. The judicial system has failed us. What happened to Charlottes Zero Tolerance? Apparantly that doesn't include fatalaties.

What gets me the most is this wasn't his first offense. He's been in trouble multiple times including alcohol and drug related. He is in fact a killer that got away with murder. I hope he realizes that.

[slappy]

Drunk driving continues to be a problem. A recent case went to appelate court, The DA's office gathered all public saftey involved in the case, including CMPD, Sheriffs deputies, and MEDIC. The defendants attorney filed motion after motion to extend, When all were finally in court, the defendant plead guilty, his punishment 8 days. Another case i studied. A drunk driver strikes an ambulance, injuring all on board. That drivers punishment, 8 weeks of weekends. Sentencing is Very light for those who drive drunk. I have tried writing my state representative asking how to propose a bill. That bill would be The first DWI ( without death or other factors) to be a revocation of the drivers license, and appropriate punishment, the second offence is a double felony, aggrivated unlicensed opperation of a motor vehicle, and the second DWI. Any help on writing a petiton or any knowlage on how to propose a bill would help. If The courts wont deal with these offenders then lets change the law, so they have to.

[cathyn]

It is so cut & dry that a person gets behind the wheel of a car , drives the car DRUNK. This is attempted Murder. What will it take to update the laws.The punishment needs to fit the crime, if you drive drunk, you are attempting to kill someome. In the case of Ms.Kelker she was murdered. Are there Officals to elect that can change these laws. I just don't get it. I am very lucky that my son didn't kill anyone the night he chose to drive drunk Now I'm learning his punishment will be minor to what I think it needs to be. The Police are doing their job, so where are the Judges & the DA that will have their back & all residents of the countys, To assure he won't do this again? Yes I believe in a second chance, Not at the cost of another Life.
Three months is no punishment for murder. This guy made the choice to drive drunk.

[JCH]

I would almost guarantee that that few kids can say they have never driven after drinking. Some get caught and some don't. And if they are caught, what do they get? Limited driving privileges. All DWI cases have the potential to be fatal to the driver and other innocent people. I believe if Mr. Heaberlin had seen his peers suffer stiff consequences, he may have been less inclined to get behind the wheel. We all know that this age group only values the opinion of their friends and most live in a "me" bubble - "if they can do it, so can I." I don't think his intention was to murder anyone, but most kids don't think about consequences when they are out partying and don't have any experience or example to draw from that would prohibit this behavior. We could give this guy 5 years in prison and the only thing this tells kids is that if you are driving drunk try not to kill anyone. It doesn't address the original DWI laws that exist and are blatantly ignored by inexperienced kids with a "that won't happen to me" mentality. I really believe the existing laws have failed this gentlemen and Ms. Kelker.

[makcy2]

Even I think that it’s important to make existing drunk driving laws more stringent and without any loopholes. I have worked with a DUI lawyer and have seen how lawyers help their clients to win cases despite of no hope initially.