Personally I don't think 90 days is too high a price to pay at all for taking a life.
-Will
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Kevin Pavlis' widow Elisa, his sister Tanya, and I were contacted by the juvenile prosecutor a couple of weeks ago. Elisa and Tanya met with the prosecutors (juvenile prosecutor Michael Anderson, and Shelly Armstrong from the downtown Ada County office), then I met with those same attorneys later. I have since discussed our meetings with Elisa and Tanya, and we 3 have the same disappointed and angry feelings regarding those meetings.
The attorneys implied some fault on Kevin's part in that he was not wearing our bright team colors (the word "bullshit" jumped out of my mouth at that point). The driver also claims he saw everyone else and the car next to us but had plenty of time to turn in front of us. More BS. The maximum juvenile penalty for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter is 90 days in juvenile lockup and 3 years probation. The prosecutors' hands are tied in that regard. HOWEVER, they are not seeking ANY incarceration time. They are currently working out a plea agreement with the attorney representing the person who
killed Kevin which will include community service, but no incarceration.
THIS IS BULLSHIT! Prosecutors are supposed to seek conviction and punishment that fits the crime. They should seek incarceration and if the judge fails to provide the sentence at least the prosecutors would have done THEIR jobs.
Remember, Elisa has lost her husband forever on this earth, Sarma has lost her daddy, and Tanya has lost her brother. We have all lost a good man, a friend, and a great asset to our community.
Elisa and Tanya asked me to contact all of you and ask you to contact the prosecutors office to express your thoughts. I realize some of you may have the misguided idea that the person who
killed Kevin will be punished enough by guilt but I assure you that is wrong. Kevin's
killer is driving in our city, attending school with his friends, and playing soccer on his high school team. A plea agreement lets the guilty determine his own punishment. Where are the consequences to this manslaughter? I don't think 90 days in a juvenile lockup is too high a price for taking an innocent life.
Mike Anderson can be contacted at: 287-7700 or
prandemc@adaweb.netI do not have Shelly Armstrong's e-mail but I believe she has the same phone number.
The Ada County Prosecuting Attorney is Greg Bower.
If you contact the prosecutors please be circumspect. I don't want to jeapordize the possibility that I might be allowed to attend the hearing/trial/sentencing. The juvenile law allows a closed hearing with only immediate family of the victim present.
To those who were present with Kevin when he was hit: let me know how you feel about pushing the prosecutor to allow more of us to be there. I feel strange that I was singled out.
To those who can forward this to others in the cycling community, please do so.
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