|
10-time DWI offender freed |
|
|
Wednesday, 22 October 2008 |
A Benton woman who has been convicted 10 times for driving while intoxicated was released from prison after serving less than a 10th of her sentence because of prison crowding.
Sheila Blair, who was convicted 10 times in 12 years, was released Friday, officials said. She was serving a recommended 10-year sentence in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
In response to the release, area legislators and representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving planned to meet at the Saline County prosecuting attorney’s office today to discuss changing state laws governing repeat DWI offenders.
On Nov. 9, 2007, a Saline County jury found Blair, 43, guilty of her 10th DWI and recommended the 10-year sentence. Saline County Circuit Court Judge Grisham Phillips upheld the recommendation and sent Blair to prison.
Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady said Blair was released under the state emergency powers act that permits the release of numerous, nonviolent criminals because of prison crowding.
“It’s disappointing,” Casady said of Blair’s release.
“A Saline County jury recommended Blair serve a maximum sentence of 10 years and a judge imposed that sentence. I think that sentence was fair and deserved. I was surprised to hear of her release after serving less than a 10 of her sentence.”
Teresa Belew, executive director of the Arkansas chapter of MADD, said the release of Blair sends the wrong message to criminals and residents of Arkansas.
Belew has been tracking Blair’s convictions since 2003. She said Blair’s DWI convictions include two in 1995, one in 2002, five in 2003 and one in 2004, prior to this year’s April 16 arrest.
Although Blair has a total of 10 DWI offenses over a span of 12 years, state law allows prosecutors to count drunken driving arrests for a five-year period only, Casady said.
“It is really an affront to the jury and my thoughts,” Belew said. “[Blair] has been in and out of trouble for over a decade. This is someone continues to drink and drive and the jury sent a clear message. With her release, where is the fear factor? There is something inherently wrong with [Blair’s release].”
Balew said Blair should be considered a violent criminal because any time a person drinks and drives, the persons turns an automobile into a dangerous weapon. She said that a few years ago, Blair struck a Good Samaritan who was helping someone change a flat tire on the side of the road when Blair was fleeing police in Little Rock.
“Those who serve on the jury, those who work in law enforcement, those who work hard to prosecute, that no matter what you do, because of the Emergency Powers Act, and because of lack of consideration of each one of these, one at a time, what difference does it make?” Belew asked.
State Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, state Rep. Dan Greenberg, R-Little Rock, and Belew were to meet at the prosecutor’s office.
|
Razorbacks
