The young father behind a DUI crash that led to the amputation of a motorcyclist’s leg was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday.
Angel Morales, 22, of Claremore, Oklahoma, had pleaded guilty to DUI in the 2013 crash, reports the Tulsa World. In addition to the DUI charges, Morales was also charged with three counts of child endangerment for having three of his children in his relative’s Cadillac Escalade at the time of the crash.
What did the victim do in this case to encourage the judge to put Morales behind bars?
Victim Impact Statement
Under Oklahoma law, crime victims or family members of crime victims have the right to appear personally at sentencing or parole proceedings and provide a victim impact statement. In cases in which the defendant has entered into a plea bargain, the Oklahoma statute requires that “In determining the appropriate sentence, the court shall consider among other factors any victim impact statements if submitted to the jury, or the judge in the event a …read more
Source:: Law Blog