There is genuine outrage at a sentence handed down today for a drunk driver who killed 2 people. On June 8, 2008 around 8:15 AM, two cyclists, Meredith Hatch age 38 and Mike Alfaro age 36 were riding their bikes near Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie. They were struck from behind by 24 year old Kenneth Bain in his Lincoln Navigator and died instantly. Bain had been driving home from a bachelor party. He admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana at that party.
The community’s anger actually began when Bain was given a $50,000 bond for two charges of Intoxication Manslaughter. The anger felt now is tenfold. Kenneth Bain was allowed to accept a plea bargain for Mike Alfaro’s death. He received 2 years for that death. He was found guilty of killing Meredith Hatch, and the judge gave him 10 years probation. Meredith Hatch’s family feels that the suspect having Senator Royce West as his lawyer played a huge part in the sentencing. They also believe the suspects’ family’s money played a role in the case as well. Bain offered an on the stand tearful apology, but tearful apologies won’t bring the victim’s back.
Meredith Hatch had a loving husband and 3 children. She was well loved in her hometown of Mansfield and was extremely active in her community. Mike Alfaro left behind his wife; he was also a well respected member of Mansfield. According to the Century Council, Texas led the nation in 2008 with over 1,200 alcohol related traffic fatalities.
See this related Kaufman County Crime Examiner article on this case :
Recent Drunk Driving case brings up conflict of interest
Please see the WFAA video report below of the sentencing in this case and the family’s reaction.
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Comments
Isn't it always strange how justice comes in many surprising packages? Great job, Sherri!
WOW, how unfair for those poor families of the victims. That's just wrong.
Ft Lauderdale Science News Examiner
Space News Examiner
justice won't be served until the auto-centric transportation system that induces the slaughter of thousands of individuals every year is finally and permanently abandoned, until we refuse to see these events as "accidents" and realize that our primary source of mobility, and those in charge of it, readily accept this body count and often go so far as to rationalize and defend the carnage. all of us are victims in this broken system and as such we need to come together and end the madness.
Justice is not always fair. How very sad for the families.
Third culture kids examiner
Seattle stay-at-home moms examiner
That's pathetic for those poor families.
Sounds like the DUI laws need to be more stringent in TX.
How pathetic! Glad I don't live in Texas. I hope this haunts him the rest of his life.
It wasn't an accident, it was a crash, caused by an idiot. He should do hard time.
I knew Meredith and she was as kind and sweet and thoughtful as they come. I am absolutely disgusted with this miscarriage of justice.
Jenni X..I agree, which is why I never used the word accident in this report..can't speak for the news program though.
Julia--I agree, this is a totally ridiculous sentence and no justice at all for the victims or their loved ones.
Mixed feelings about this, but it's a tragedy any way you slice it.
Gourmet Food Examiner
** If you know the name of the judge in this case, please let me know** Thank you!
How horrible! As a paralegal I remember this happening far too often. DUI's were one case I couldn't accept working on. It's not an accident when you drink, smoke pot and then get behind the wheel of a car. I'm tweeting hoping more people realize the dangers this can cause.
I can well understand the outrage over this. I'm pretty sure my blood pressure went up when I got to the word probation.
Indianapolis Healthy Living Examiner
Sims Examiner
This is pretty outrageous. Thanks for sharing this Sherri!
Hopefully he has his license revoked for a long time--and no driving to and from work either.
Very sad situation, I have mixed feelings to. What he did was a very bad choice and there are consciences for bad choices. Everybody lost in the situation. In my younger days I made some of those bad choices to. I have been on both sides of this situation. Both sides are ugly. God help everybody involved.
Wow, I'd be outraged over this too.
People will still continue to do this if they are nor fearful of a jail sentence.
I was just happy to see it do more than just disappear from the criminal system, as the case did in San Antonio where the driver veered off the roadway to hit the parents of that six year old girl.
It's outrageous how people can get away with murder with money and a good lawyer.
That result is unconscionable.
Judge Gracie Lewis was the judge and Senator Royce West was the defending attorney.
j--thank you very much. You can expect another article on this after Christmas. It smells all wrong to me,and having lost 2 family members to a drunk driver, I don't take this lightly.
Examiner is having a lot of problems sending out email notifications to my subscribers..please check back periodically if you have not received a nitice about a new article every 2 or 3 days. My latest article which is written about this drunk driving case can be found at the bottom of this article..it's titled : Recent drunk driving case brings up conflict of interest!
It does really anger me when these irresponsible drivers take lives. I hope this shows up on his karmic records.
he gets 2 years in prison for killing 2 people while drunk give me a break . the sentence is a joke and a travesty of justice. he should have gotten 30 years in prison.
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