[SDCBC] Maximum Sentence for Killing Bicyclist

[Philip Erdelsky]

 From Fox News online:

TUCSON, Ariz. —  A judge sentenced a woman to nearly the maximum prison term 
for negligent homicide after hearing a recorded jail conversation in which she 
made light of the bicyclist she killed.

Melissa Arrington, 27, was convicted two months ago of negligent homicide and 
two counts of aggravated DUI in connection with the December 2006 death of 
Paul L'Ecuyer.

She could have gotten as few as four years behind bars, but Superior Court 
Judge Michael Cruikshank sentenced her Tuesday to 10 1/2 years — one year shy 
of the maximum.

Cruikshank said he found a telephone conversation between Arrington and an 
unknown male friend, a week after L'Ecuyer was killed, to be "breathtaking in 
its inhumanity."

During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance believed 
she should get a medal and a parade because she had "taken out" a "tree 
hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot."

Arrington laughed. When the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, 
she responded, "No, it's not."

Assistant Public Defender Michael Rosenbluth told the judge his client has 
never been "cold, callous or flippant" about L'Ecuyer's death and has always 
felt remorseful.

Arrington said words couldn't express how she feels, and that once she's out 
of prison, she hopes to share her story with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

L'Ecuyer, 45, was riding his bike the night of Dec. 1, 2006 when Arrington 
swerved off the road, hit him and then continued for 800 feet before stopping, 
according to Deputy Pima County Attorney Jonathan Mosher.

Arrington's blood-alcohol content was .156 percent, nearly double Arizona's 
.08 legal limit. She had been driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI.