Blind, Deaf & Dumb Justice

Tfc. Anthony Jones,
killed in the line of duty: value of his life is $600
Judge Gives DWI Driver Who Killed Trooper $600 Fine and Traffic School
By Kenneth C. Rossignol
ST. MARY’S TODAY
UPPER MARLBORO --- ( April 14, 2005) The motorist who failed to slow his vehicle to avoid a Maryland State Trooper who was removing a tire from the traveled lanes of Rt. 50 one year ago, striking the trooper and killed him, pleaded guilty to DWI and was sentenced by a Judge to traffic school and ordered to pay a $600 fine.
Tfc. Anthony Jones, who had been a trooper for six years, left a wife and two children when he was killed on May 4, 2004 on Rt. 50 near the Freeway Airport at Church Drive.
Retired Prince George’s Circuit Court Judge Vincent Femia, known for his unorthodox style and unusual courtroom demeanor, was requested by the prosecutor to consider the fact that the victim was a state trooper.
Tfc. Jones, who was in his second career after retiring from the U.S. Air Force was nearby his police vehicle with the emergency lights flashing, along with other police and rescue vehicles at the scene of a crash when he was struck by a 1986 Volkswagon van operated by Darryl C. Harris, 42, of Laurelwalk Drive in Laurel.
Harris was operating his van at 70 mph through the crash scene and scored a .08 on the breathalizer, the legal limit for drunk driving in Maryland, a violation he didn’t contest.
But with Judge Femia on the bench and Glen Ivey as the prosecutor, Harris didn’t need a defense attorney.  The failure of Prince George's States Attorney Glen Ivey to charge Harris with manslaughter removed the possibility of serious jail time for the admitted drunk driver.  Had Harris been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated he could have been sent to prison for up to ten years. But Ivey decided not to bring forward that charge, speculating that the court might not convict him.  Legal experts told ST. MARY'S TODAY that it was the job of the States Attorney to bring forth the charge and for the Judge to decide to convict or toss out the charge, as such a charge was hardly frivolous.  Harris' failing to lower his speed at a crash scene, and in addition exceeding the limit, added to the intoxication level, was evidence of his disregard for others and could have led to his conviction.
Judge Femia may not have had the charge of manslaughter in front of him but he could have taken much more seriously a DWI guilty plea and given a stiff sentence.  Judge Femia said from the bench that he treats all cases the same, whether the victim is a drug dealer or a trooper, it makes no difference.
Tfc. Jones had stopped to assist another trooper with the crash scene after a motorist had called police to report he had been cut off by another driver, forced into a Jersey barrier and lost a wheel, but managed to get his vehicle off the road to the shoulder.
The trooper had retrieved the tire from the through lane and was returning to his patrol car when he was mowed down by Harris, his body thrown 300 feet in the air and was pronounced dead on the scene, report police.
Drunk drivers are killing at ever higher rates due to courts allowing so many drunk drivers to have repeat offences without doing serious jail time. Maryland has lowered the blood alcohol level from .10 to .08 but the number of drivers who decide to drink after driving never seems to be slowed.
If you see a drunk driver, call 911 on your cell phone. Be prepared to give the direction of travel of the vehicle as well as a description.
Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Thomas E. "Tim" Hutchins responded to the scene of the trooper’s death last year and later personally made notification to the Trooper's wife and family.
"Tfc. Jones was an outstanding trooper who set an example for others to follow," said Col. Hutchins. "He was committed to a life of service to his nation and his state. His life, his legacy and his sacrifice will always be remembered."