drunken pilots sentenced

[LibraryLady]

I just watched the sentencing of the two America West pilots arrested for attempting to fly drunk. Disclaimer: Drunk driving is one of the issues that infuriates me beyond words. I watched my cousin's family disintegrate after he was killed at the age of 19 by a drunk driver in 1961. At that time, it was socially acceptable and the drunk got off with a slap on the wrist.

Happily today things are different. The pilot with no record got 2.5 years + 1.5 years house arrest + 1 year probation. The one who had a dui, two domestic abuse arrests, etc., got 5 years.

This is a good thing.

 

[RandFan]

I just watched the sentencing of the two America West pilots arrested for attempting to fly drunk. Disclaimer: Drunk driving is one of the issues that infuriates me beyond words. I watched my cousin's family disintegrate after he was killed at the age of 19 by a drunk driver in 1961. At that time, it was socially acceptable and the drunk got off with a slap on the wrist.

Happily today things are different. The pilot with no record got 2.5 years + 1.5 years house arrest + 1 year probation. The one who had a dui, two domestic abuse arrests, etc., got 5 years.

This is a good thing.

Hi LL,

I watched part of the trial on CourtTV. I know that everyone is entitled to a defense and I will concede that they have a right to any defense that is legal but there defense was really pissing me off. I stopped watching it. Again, I agree with the legal system and not complaining about that. The problem is mine but damn I wish people could step up to the plate and admit wrong doing.

 

[LibraryLady]

Re: Re: drunken pilots sentenced

Hi LL,

The problem is mine but damn I wish people could step up to the plate and admit wrong doing.

No, the problem isn't yours; it's theirs. I too watched part of the trial (the advantage of working Saturdays is having a weekday off), and was absolutely disgusted. Today at the sentencing, the defense for Hughes, the first offender, was trying to make a case that he was already undergoing treatment and that he has two small children. His wife insisted that the judge look at pictures of the kids. I bet the passengers on the flight they were supposed to pilot also had really cute kids.

I would have felt a lot more sympathy had he just pled guilty and took it like a grownup.

There, I feel better. Venting does help.

 

[davefoc]

I think they tried to plead guilty but judge rejected plea agreement as too lenient and trial went forward.

Of course they were stone cold guilty but I guess they'd seen some high profile trials where stone cold guilty defendants got off and thought they'd take a shot rather than plead guilty and take what the judge thought they should get.

 

[SezMe]

The one who had a dui, two domestic abuse arrests, etc., got 5 years.

As a side note, I thought it was hell to get an airline pilot job as there were lots (tens? scores? more?) applicants for every position. If this is the case, I wonder why this guy ever got or kept his job in the first place.

 

[Chaos]

What? They didn´t "find Jesus" just in time for their trials?

Amateurs...