A 27-year-old Hoonah man pleaded guilty to assault and drunken driving charges after striking a pedestrian with his truck on New Year’s Day.
Jarret D. Brown entered his pleas in Juneau Superior Court telephonically on Thursday.
A plea agreement reached with prosecutors calls for a composite sentence of 720 days of jail with 640 days suspended. That means Brown will have to serve a total of 80 days in prison.
According to a police affidavit, Rick “Butch” Sheakley, was walking on a roadway at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2012, and was struck by a Dodge truck driven by Brown travelling west on Garteeni Highway in Hoonah, just east of White Alice Road.
Brown blew a .275 on a breathalyzer device an hour later, according to the affidavit. That’s more than three times the legal limit.
Assistant District Attorney Amy Williams said Sheakley reported to the police that he suffered headaches, soreness in his back, chest and torso, as well as difficulties with his lungs, which included coughing up blood.
Williams asked for 60 days to submit a claim for restitution for the medical bills.
Williams said Brown had five passengers in his truck at the time.
The police affidavit also states a second pedestrian had been struck by Brown’s vehicle, but that charge never made it past the grand jury proceedings. It was dismissed.
Brown was initially charged with two counts of third-degree assault, a felony, and one count of driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.
He pleaded guilty to one reduced charge of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He also pleaded to one count DUI, a misdemeanor.
Broken down by charge, the agreement calls for 360 days with 340 suspended for the DUI, which is 20 days to serve. For the assault charge, Brown received 360 days with 300 suspended, meaning there’s 60 days to serve.
The agreement also calls for unsupervised probation for two years, alcohol screening and referral, up to 45 days of inpatient treatment if recommended, a 90-day drivers license suspension and six months of using an interlock device on his truck. He also is not allowed to consume alcohol or enter a bar and must write a letter of apology to the victim.
When given the opportunity to speak, Brown simply told Judge Louis Menendez he was sorry.
Defense attorney David Mallet told the judge his client was a war hero who is normally a responsible citizen. He argued Brown has an excellent chance of rehabilitation.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (11)
Add commentwhat a joke
hit 2 people while driving crazy drunk and he gets 80 jails days and 6 months locking device on his truck.
What about 5 years locking device on his truck at his expense? If he' such a hero and great guy it should be no prblem and would protect the public.
Another slap on the hands by the system
Really!
How are DUI's going to learn a lesson if the system keeps taking off time to serve? Have them do full term, why give them another chance? He could have killed these two guys and all they do is slap his hand? The truck wasn't even his, come on now, and what about the 5 other people in the truck, why didn't any of them try and help the injured? What happen to this charge? Leaving the scene of the crime?
Wow
I am really thankful everyone is ok, a lot could have happened in this situation. So HAPPY no one was killed, the 5 other people in the truck did help and no one else knows this but the people involved. Noboby left the scene of the crime. It's pretty sad that people are try to get money out of a situation like this. Get a job!!!!!!! This was all an accident and was surely not intentionally done. All the way down to the passengers, victims and drivers, no one meant for this to happen and they definatley are all affected by this terrible accident. You can fault and blame the driver for a poor decision but don't take away his military honors.
To gossipsucks
Yes, a bad decision made. "Get a job"? really,
To gossipsucks
Yes, a bad decision made. "Get a job"? really,
Discrestion of the Judge
I remember when the breathe analyzer was required for a minimum of a year, but recently Alaska statues have changed to allow as little as 6 months up to more than two years based on the severity of the incident, left at the discretion of the Judge assigned.
I know there are plenty who learn from their mistakes when a DUI is the incident, and I hope Mr. Brown is one of them.
DUIs have the potential of harming career goals, are costly when it comes to having to rent the equipment to be able to drive your car, causes higher insurance rates, jail and JSAP aren't cheap either plus having to find transportation when an individual isn't allowed to drive.
I'm glad to read that nobody was killed. And I hope that Mr. Brown realizes that the Judge was very lenient with his decision.
What the Crap!
@ gossipsucks,
I'm sure that we're all HAPPY that no one was hurt, especially the guy that was hit. You said that this was all an accident and that no one meant for this to happen. WELL if the driver wouldn't have been driving drunk, then it probably wouldn't have happened at all. But since the driver acted on those choices, he should get more than just a slap on the wrist, because now he'll probably turn around and do it again, because he knows, just as well as anyone else that our legal system is too worried about hurting people's feelings.
I have been to too many funerals due to someone making the choice to drive drunk. I have NO tolerance for it at all. Everybody who makes that choice to get behind the wheel while intoxicated knows what COULD happen.
hmm
It was a simple mistake, nobody lost their lives. He took the wheel when he shouldn't have, because nobody else in that group was sober enough to drive. Yes they should of caught a cab or walked. Jarret isn't a career criminal or has a record that shows he has a problem, he just made a simple mistake like most of us do.
Fact is if you do know him. You know what he's done for this country, you know his sacrifices for the freedom we have. He's saw and done things you only see in movies and read about in books. The man carries a heavy burden like most vets do that have seen actual heavy combat. Does that make it ok to drink and drive, no. But don't judge what you do not know. This man doesn't deserve jail. Get him the help for the drinking, but jail isn't the answer.
Keep your head up Jarret. What you've done as a soldier makes me proud to be an american and honored to know you and where you come from.
good guy or not...
If any of you the guy who got hit youd know he too was in the military and served his time in Iraq, im sure both men spilt the same blood in the same mud but that dont change the fact that he ran him over. He did plead guilty but his sentence is BS! Both men are our countrys heroes and that probably shouldnt have even been brought up in court.
veterans
My name is Julie Jackson and I am a proud parent of two wonderful sons, who have chosen to serve our country and fight for our freedom. My youngest is currently serving in the Navy and approaching his second deployment. My oldest has decided to get out of the Army after 7 years of serving this wonderful country and sacrificing his life for OUR freedom. He has given his own life to save others without hesitation. His purple heart and silver star does not begin to justify his heart and dedication to this country. He will forever regret the mistake/poor choice he made on January 1, 2012. He has never strayed from the concern of the two young men. Rick, I am thankful that you are alright. Jarret is the first to step forward and except the consequencences for his poor choice. Please forgive me and my son, as this was an unforturnate accident. To the Sheakley family, this will be with him for the rest of his life, be assured that the sentence is not BS it will have a lifetime affect.
The guy broke the law. He
The guy broke the law. He was in the wrong. However, he put it on the line for our country and has the medals to prove it. I'm willing to give this particular guy a bit of a break. I am glad the judge saw things the same way.