Punishment should fit crime
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
A buddy of mine called me a few weeks ago. He was livid. He asked if I had heard about the plea bargain agreement reached between the Lake County Attorney’s office and the defense attorney for Daniel George Fellows, the 19-year-old driving 80 mph while intoxicated, who rear-ended a school bus with kids inside. The impact was so severe it knocked the school bus forward 10-15 feet. I responded that no, I hadn’t heard anything about it. I had assumed that anything that glaringly idiotic would have too much attention on it to be screwed up. And then I read about the agreement in the Valley Journal.
Daniel Fellows pleaded guilty to two felonies, which will be deferred for six years. He was sentenced to six months in jail with all but 10 days suspended and a $1,000 fine with all but $400 suspended.
Now I am as livid as my buddy. There is no kid in this valley that ever got off this easy. The agreement or punishment is so inconsistent with the crime, it begs the question, who is this young man connected with? Who does he know that is so influential that justice and public safety are virtually disregarded? Our newly elected county attorney is acting like a public defender on steroids.
This agreement is great for the criminal but the public’s interests are completely ignored. Our children are our greatest treasure. It is a miracle that Daniel Fellows didn’t kill a bunch of them. Judge Manley must reject this agreement as an insult to his courtroom.
Go back to the drawing board and create a plea agreement stiff enough to punish Daniel Fellows enough to force him to never act in such a dangerous, felonious manner again without throwing his life away. It can’t be that difficult.
Rolf Harmsen
Polson
