GRAND RAPIDS (AP) - The Michigan appeals court has overturned a 10-year prison sentence for a man who was drunk when his pickup truck slammed into another vehicle, killing a woman and leaving her two sons with major injuries in 2017.
The court also said the case will be assigned to a different judge because of Kent County Judge Mark Trusock's "deep-seated personal opinions" about Doug Crystal.
Crystal pleaded no contest to drunken driving causing death and other offenses. Trusock ordered a 10-year sentence, well above the minimum guidelines.
The crash killed Meranda Baguss, 33, of Sand Lake and severely injured her 5-year-old twin sons.
"Sir, you did not accidentally fall down and drink six or eight drinks at the golf course," Truscok said. "You (did) not accidentally fall down and get behind the wheel of a car. You did not accidentally put your keys in and start that car and drive it."
Appellate judges Elizabeth Gleicher and Michael Kelly said Trusock didn't give reasons to justify a sentence outside the guidelines, MLive.com reported.
Judge Jane Markey was in favor of affirming the sentence.
Published: Mon, Mar 30, 2020
