[Glenmore]

He was 16; at 18 he would definitely have gone to jail, regardless of who he was, but the laws are different for under 18. Right or wrong, the laws ARE different, and the judge was probably ruling as the law required.

[spetznaz]

That is a veritable statement - the legal system may simply be following established sentencing protocol. However , I believe - and I may be wrong - but I strongly believe that were the 'kid' not from a wealthy family the sentence would have been different. Let's make everything the same - same age, same number of people killed/paralyzed, same level of blood alcohol at 3 times limit, same level of drugs in the chap's system, same race. The only difference is make the person some poor white kid from a trailer park.

If Trailerpark Joe would get the same ruling, then the sentencing was purely based on established protocol. However, I highly suspect that Trailerpark Joe would be facing the heavy hand of the law. Texas is a state that believes in personal responsibility and accountability strongly, and the judge would surely punish TP Joe. Hard.

Exceptions are however made for the wealthy.

[Leaning Right]

the judge was probably ruling as the law required

The judge ruled as the law allowed, not required. Remember, prosecutors asked for a 20 year sentence. So I'm guessing that the sentencing range had to be at least 0 to 20 years.

[cherry]

sort of agree....I see him as a 16 yro with a new license....he should have had some time behind bars, and his driving priviledges taken away for a year or two...

[Talisker]

He was 16; at 18 he would definitely have gone to jail, regardless of who he was, but the laws are different for under 18. Right or wrong, the laws ARE different, and the judge was probably ruling as the law required.

In 2004, this same judge gave another teen in a similiar case 20 years.

THAT teen didn't have wealthy parents.

This woman who calls herself a judge is flat out evil in front of the whole world and she doesn't give a damn. Somehow she's getting paid off, everyone knows she's getting paid off, and she knows everyone knows she's getting paid off - and she's doing it anyway.

Evil bitch.

Remember you money when you're in hell, bitch.