Updated: Friday, 20 Apr 2012, 9:56 PM CDT
\nPublished :\u00a0 Friday, 20 Apr 2012, 7:38 PM CDT<\/p>\n
A judge in Houston sentenced a convicted drunk driver to humiliation. The\u00a0 drunk driver killed another man when he crashed into his car. Now the whole city\u00a0 will know what happened.<\/p>\n
In June of 2011, 20 year old Aaron Pennywell was killed when he was struck by\u00a0 38-year-old Michael Giacona.<\/p>\n
Saturday, Giacona will re-visit the scene, but not because he wants to.<\/p>\n
Harris County Judge Mike Fields has ordered him to spend the next four\u00a0 Saturdays out there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while wearing a sign that says he\u00a0 killed Pennywell.<\/p>\n
“Maybe we should try shaming people more often,” said retired Travis County\u00a0 Judge Jon Wisser.<\/p>\n
Retired Travis County Judge Jon Wisser says he’s never done something this\u00a0 unique, but he’s not against it.<\/p>\n
“The law permits a judge to use any reasonable means of punishment,” Wisser\u00a0 said. “The old days we had stocks put people in a public square. We put their\u00a0 arms and hands through things tried to shame them and humiliate them. This is a\u00a0 throw back to that. Maybe we ought to try and humiliate and shame defendants and\u00a0 maybe that will prevent them from doing that again.”<\/p>\n
Not everyone thinks wearing a sign is appropriate even if a death is\u00a0 involved.<\/p>\n
“I think it\u2019s a little barbaric. I feel like I’m re-reading the Scarlett\u00a0 letter. I don’t think it’s fair,” said Austinite Keana Culjak-Reif.<\/p>\n
“There’s no comfort, that can’t be fixed. What can be fixed is what the judge\u00a0 is trying to do help other people from using their sons, daughters, brothers,\u00a0 sisters, fathers,” said Austinite Glenn Gadbois.<\/p>\n
Although this wasn’t the victim’s family’s idea, according to the local\u00a0 Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter they are pleased.<\/p>\n
“The mother said she loved the idea because it makes this person, maybe it\u00a0 will help them think twice before they get behind the wheel because it’s my\u00a0 understanding it was this man’s second DWI,” said John McNamee, MADD Southeast\u00a0 Texas Affiliate Executive Director.<\/p>\n
Just in case Giacona forgets what\u00a0 he did during the week, Judge Mike Fields is also forcing him to keep a picture\u00a0 of the victim’s wrecked car in his living room.<\/p>\n
“Harris County leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities and if this\u00a0 brings more awareness to people in the community when they see a person wearing\u00a0 a placard, they realize the cost of drunk driving and gets them to change their\u00a0 behavior, then we would fully support that because something needs to change in\u00a0 Harris County,” said McNamee.<\/p>\n
According to the judge, a probation officer will be going out to the crash\u00a0 site to make sure Giacona is doing what he should. A probation officer will also\u00a0 be doing random home visits to look for the wrecked car picture.<\/p>\n
Giacona also been sentenced to two years and must attend Alcoholics Anonymous\u00a0 meetings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Read more: http:\/\/www.myfoxaustin.com\/dpp\/news\/Drunk-Driver-Sentenced-to-Humiliation20120420-ktbcw-#ixzz1ssARjT2o<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drunk Driver Sentenced to Humiliation Updated: Friday, 20 Apr 2012, 9:56 PM CDT Published :\u00a0 Friday, 20 Apr 2012, 7:38 PM CDT A judge in Houston sentenced a convicted drunk driver to humiliation. The\u00a0 drunk driver killed another man when … Continue reading