Shutterbug
Some Say........
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http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=49037&provider=top
Video: http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=20753&sid=49037&bw=hi&cat=2
GEAUGA COUNTY -- How could a drunk driver get so many chances? An 18-year-old girl is dead and her two friends are fighting for their lives.
The Geauga County man accused of killing Grace Chamberlain was a repeat drunk driver with a long history of arrests.
Grace was a passenger in a small car - crushed by a speeding pickup last Thursday night.
Her two friends, 18-year-old Andrew Hopkins from Warren, and 18-year-old Evan Dasilva were both badly injured, still in serious condition.
James Cline was the man who was trying to elude police when he hit Chamberlain's car. Another driver spotted him weaving and called 911.
Cline was already well known by police. His license has been suspended 15 times.
Since 1984 he has racked up 12 drunk driving convictions.
"He deserves to be in jail and he deserves to be held for a long time because, perhaps, 12 months in a local jail would have given him the opportunity to dry up,' said Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce.
There is a growing outrage that Cline was free to get behind the wheel of any vehicle asking why he wasn't serving a longer term in prison. Former Chardon Muni Judge Craig Albert gave Cline the maximum sentence three times.
"Believe me, if I could have put him in prison for 20 years, I would have put him in prison for 20 years," Albert said.
Judge Robert Hassett, the current municipal judge, gave Cline five continuances in the most recent case of driving while license suspended - frustrating the Geauga Sheriff's Department who wanted Cline behind bars.
"This is frustrating - it is sad - this is a tragedy that perhaps didn't have to happen," said Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland.
Cline got a huge break from a judge in Newton Falls . 90 days house arrest.
As soon as Cline is released from the hospital, he's going straight to jail until his bond hearing.
But this time, Cline isn't just facing another count of drunk driving, he's facing a charge of vehicular homicide among other things.
That could mean 27 years in prison, if he's found guilty.
Video: http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=20753&sid=49037&bw=hi&cat=2
GEAUGA COUNTY -- How could a drunk driver get so many chances? An 18-year-old girl is dead and her two friends are fighting for their lives.
The Geauga County man accused of killing Grace Chamberlain was a repeat drunk driver with a long history of arrests.
Grace was a passenger in a small car - crushed by a speeding pickup last Thursday night.
Her two friends, 18-year-old Andrew Hopkins from Warren, and 18-year-old Evan Dasilva were both badly injured, still in serious condition.
James Cline was the man who was trying to elude police when he hit Chamberlain's car. Another driver spotted him weaving and called 911.
Cline was already well known by police. His license has been suspended 15 times.
Since 1984 he has racked up 12 drunk driving convictions.
"He deserves to be in jail and he deserves to be held for a long time because, perhaps, 12 months in a local jail would have given him the opportunity to dry up,' said Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce.
There is a growing outrage that Cline was free to get behind the wheel of any vehicle asking why he wasn't serving a longer term in prison. Former Chardon Muni Judge Craig Albert gave Cline the maximum sentence three times.
"Believe me, if I could have put him in prison for 20 years, I would have put him in prison for 20 years," Albert said.
Judge Robert Hassett, the current municipal judge, gave Cline five continuances in the most recent case of driving while license suspended - frustrating the Geauga Sheriff's Department who wanted Cline behind bars.
"This is frustrating - it is sad - this is a tragedy that perhaps didn't have to happen," said Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland.
Cline got a huge break from a judge in Newton Falls . 90 days house arrest.
As soon as Cline is released from the hospital, he's going straight to jail until his bond hearing.
But this time, Cline isn't just facing another count of drunk driving, he's facing a charge of vehicular homicide among other things.
That could mean 27 years in prison, if he's found guilty.
to watch over her in HEAVEN!
for the family that has to COPE with the loss of their babydoll.
