Sports fans have probably heard the story. On March 14, Donte Stallworth, WR for the Cleveland Browns, hit a man with his car and killed him. In the past few days, more details about the story have come forward. Stallworth’s alcohol level was .126 after the crash, well above the legal limit of .08 in Florida where the accident occurred. Police did explain the man was not crossing the street at a crosswalk, but regardless, the accident happened about 7:15 AM, Stallworth was speeding, and he was drunk.
This post really has nothing to do with sports or athletes. The main focus concerns drunk driving and “manslaughter.”
Stallworth is being charged with DUI manslaughter. If he’s convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
I have a real problem with that charge and my gripe has nothing to do with Stallworth being an athlete.
Would someone please explain to me how someone can face a MAXIMUM of 15 years in prison for killing someone while driving drunk? I know the charge is considered “manslaughter,” but we’re you’re driving under the influence, is it really manslaughter or is it a reckless murder?
I understand accidents happen and sometimes people die. It’s very unfortunate, but it’s reality. However, DUIs are no “accidents.” When you get behind the wheel and you’re drunk, you’re essentially firing a gun into a crowd and hoping not to hit anyone.
I firmly believe our DUI laws in this country are way too light. When you take someone else’s life because of your own crime, you deserve much more than 15 years in prison. In fact, if Stallworth gets 15 years in prison, the sentence will be unheard of. Cases like this happen every day, and many times the driver spends no more than 90 days in prison while the victim loses his or her life.
I cannot make any sense of this. How do we equate 3 months in prison with taking someone’s life?
My family has been the victim of drunk driving accidents and multiple hit and runs (occurring because of alcohol and drugs). I’m amazed at how little the courts do to protect the victims.
Doesn’t seem more fair that if you take someone’s life through a DUI manslaughter that you should have to go to jail for life, or at least a lengthy sentence? If you drive drunk and kill one of my family members, is it really fair for me or the rest of my family to have to worry about you being back on the streets in 3 months?
Like I said, I’m not talking about accidents. Things happen everyday by “accident.” People are killed on the job site, doctors make mistakes, etc. But driving drunk is a crime in itself. When you drive drunk, you should be held just as responsible as if you planned to commit manslaughter in the first place.
Tags: Cleveland Browns, Dante Stallworth, DUI, manslaughter
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
“I understand accidents happen and sometimes people die. It’s very unfortunately, but it’s reality. However, DUIs are no “accidents.” When you get behind the wheel and you’re drunk, you’re essentially firing a gun into a crowd and hoping not to hit anyone.”
This is key! Great post David!
Pusch
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I guess DUI isn’t considered a felony being that this should be considered Felony Murder if you ask me. Driving drunk should be a felony whether it is or not.
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:27 pm
DUI laws need to be tightened up. This is what I think would make people think twice about driving drunk.
1. 1st DUI= one year without a license.
2. 2nd DUI = one year in prison.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I think the fact that Stallworth (and virtually every perpetrator of DUI-related manslaughter) didn’t literally intend to kill anyone provides the distinction between manslaughter and murder. What he did was undeniably reckless, but murder, from my understanding, requires malice aforethought, an understanding that one’s actions will most likely cause death. It would be hard to argue, when statistics would likely show that about .0001% of drunk-driving occurrences result in death, that anyone who drives intoxicated believes his actions are likely to cause death.
This doesn’t excuse Stallworth’s actions, but I think it’s important that we have specific legal divisions between murder and manslaughter, if for no other reason than to ensure we avoid cruel and unusual punishment for unintended actions.
Also, your statement about the likely punishment for this crime is spot on. Remember Leonard Little in 1998? 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1000 hours of community service.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Great comments.
Tyrone, I wasn’t really trying to equate DUI manslaughter with murder, although I probably did. In my mind, I was thinking differently. My issue is there seems to be an incredible gap between manslaughter and murder. It seems like there should be some type of middle ground. DUI manslaughter can get you 90 days in jail. Murder can get your life in prison, or even death. Something seems to be missing.
I was actually using the Little case as my basis for the 90 days. I’m glad Little has changed his life and is using his days now to speak out against drinking and drunk driving, but the penalty didn’t seem to match the crime.