52 months for drunk driver whose passenger died

From WyCo DA: Howard Lewis, Jr., age 33, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced to 52 months in prison this morning for the January 8, 2007, death of Waynedale Avery. Avery was the passenger is a vehicle driven by Lewis which wrapped around a utility pole on westbound Parallel Parkway, just west of Victory Drive in the early morning hours of January 8, 2007. Lewis pleaded nolo contendere to Involuntary Manslaughter on September 18, 2009. His blood alcohol level was .14, well in excess of the legal limit of.08, and the vehicle was being operated at high speed.

Comments

[Kevin]

I understand that the killing of his passenger was not intentional. Under the law it is considered reckless because the death occured while the driver was intoxicated. However, I constantly preach on here that DWI check points are a waste of limited police resources and I am constantly attacked for this belief. This is a prime example of why they are a waste of time. You can drink and drive and kill someone and get 52 months in jail. This person will do only a fraction of that sentence due to overcrowding and good behavior. The police, courts, Judges and DWI laws are a joke.

[C]

There is a lot more behind this than you think and read. If you knew all the details you would probably understand a whole lot better. But I do agree the DWI check points are a waste.