Why was plea deal allowed in vehicular homicide case?

Published 1:30 am Sunday, January 8, 2023

Regarding the article about the Marysville driver sentenced to three years for killing one woman and injuring another badly (“Marysville man gets almost three years in deadly Everett crash,” The Herald, Dec. 29): Why was there a plea deal, dropping the driving under the influence of fentanyl and THC?

Blood tests don’t lie. Three years (less for good behavior, which must only be attempted as a convict) is hardly a price to pay for recklessly killing one and badly injuring another. With TV, pizza nights, and recreation these days will pass quickly. This is not a consequence. Are our taxpayer-funded lawyers not capable of actually trying a case? Are they that overworked?

By the way, was the defendant’s lawyer paid for by taxpayers? It seems like there has been a long history of these prosecutors making these plea deals. Why? How is this justified? I would submit that a great investigative story would be to cover this, and report in numbers the depths of this sham. I also think this behavior should be transparent and widely shared by the department we pay to serve us.

Rob Dietz

Arlington