Officer Sentenced to 11 Years In Prison After Fatal DUI Crash
After killing a 2-year-old child and leaving his mother in a vegetative state, Jersey City police officer Kevin Freibott will face 11 years in prison. It is estimated that Freibott’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was more than three times the legal limit of 0.08% at the time of the crash. Freibott was convicted to the maximum sentence of 11 years, and the judge in his case ordered that he not be released on parole until at least seven years of serving his sentence. He pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and aggravated assault.
Anyone interested in New Jersey DUI law will note the range of accusations that ultimately led to Freibott’s conviction. Not only is he on the hook for DUI, but he faced criminal charges of vehicular homicide and assault. Freibott has been fired from his job, publicly disgraced, and made responsible for the lives of the mother and child that he took. The combination of criminal and DUI charges is a wake-up call to anyone who thinks that a DUI-related crash is a minor legal undertaking.
Though it might seem that a case like Freibott’s is hopeless for any DUI lawyer, Freibott was lucky to have a lawyer who instructed him to plead appropriately. This decision was doubtless made based on sound legal strategy. The decision to enter into a plea bargain can be a tough one, but the right lawyer can make sure that a plea bargain actually benefits the accused person in comparison to what they would face if convicted by a judge and jury.
Unfortunately, Freibott didn’t just take two lives the night of the fatal crash. In a sense, he took his own, as well. Freibott’s career and reputation are permanently destroyed – one of the most serious consequences of a DUI accident. If you have been accused of a New Jersey DUI, you have a limited amount of time in which to act. Make sure you arm yourself with legal counsel who understands – and can fight on your behalf. Lependorf & Silverstein is experienced with all kinds of New Jersey DUI cases. In trouble for your DUI? Don’t delay. Call us today for a free consultation.
