Mark Skillingberg Sentenced to One Year for Vehicular Manslaughter

type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://losangelesduiblog.com/"> A movie and television music editor was sentenced last week to just one year in jail and five years of probation after killing a 72-year-old man in a 2009 drunk driving accident, despite the victim's family pushing for a harsher punishment. The Los Angeles Times reports that the sentencing of editor Mark Skillingberg came after a no contest plea to a charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.

Skillingberg's accident took place when he was reportedly driving at about 20 miles above the posted speed limit with a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit in California. If Skillingberg completes his probation without incident, then the felony conviction will eventually be reduced to a misdemeanor and expunged from his record.

]]> So how exactly was the defendant able to get away with not going to prison and likely avoid a felony that sticks to the permanent record? To begin with, Skillingberg had no criminal record prior to the 2009 drunk driving accident. The sentence in this case was part of a plea agreement, in which the district attorney's office said there "would likely reach the same result" if the case were to go to trial. A probation report also concluded that Skillingberg was not a danger to the community and that he would be able to learn from his experience.

Judge Katherine Mader noted that Skillingberg is not going unpunished for the crime, but she did express sympathy for the victim's family. If Skillingberg violates the terms of his probation, he will be sentenced to much stiffer penalties.

Related Resources:

Find a Los Angeles DUI Attorney (FindLaw)Vehicular Manslaughter in California (FindLaw Answers)Probation Violation - Criminal Law (FindLaw)]]>

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