Drunken driver denied parole
Stephey to continue serving seven-year sentence for wreck that killed two, disfigured Jacqui Saburido.

Reginald Stephey Parole was opposed by two victims' parents; he'll get another chance in August 2006.


By Claire Osborn

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied parole for Reginald Stephey, the drunken driver who caused a 1999 head-on collision on RM 2222 that killed two people and injured three others, including Jacqui Saburido.

Stephey, who was eligible for parole for the first time, has served about half of his seven-year sentence for two counts of intoxication manslaughter.

Saburido, a student from Venezuela, lost her eyelids, nose, ears and parts of her fingers when the car caught fire after the crash. She did not oppose Stephey's parole.

Stephey's next opportunity for parole will be on Aug. 1, 2006, said Mike Viesca, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Stephey's mother, who visited board members on Thursday, said she was angry that the decision came the next day because officials told her they would review the file and make a decision in two weeks.

"They didn't review the file; they simply check-marked it," Jeanne Stephey said.

Reggie Stephey, 23, is earning a college degree, works in the prison's stainless steel plant and has talked to students about the dangers of drunken driving.

The collision, which happened on Sept. 19, 1999, when Stephey's truck crashed into an oncoming car, killed 20-year-old Laura Guerrero of Colombia and 18-year-old Natalia Chpytchak Bennett of Russia. Their parents wrote letters to the board asking that Stephey be required to serve his full sentence, said B.J. Hassell, a spokeswoman for the Central Texas chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"The parole board did the right thing," Hassell said.

This is a perfect example of one of the many things I love about the great state of Texas. He killed two people and got seven years. My husband made a wrong turn in an empty parking lot and got six.

As to what Mrs. Stephy said about the board I am sure she is right, there is not a doubt in my mind. The word "discretionary" should be changed to "arbitrary" in regards to anything that is even remotely related criminal justice in Texas. What Madd does not seem to realize is this man will have to live with his actions the rest of his life regardless of how long he is imprisoned a fact I am sure he is well aware of.

at least he got something the man who killed my daughter and grandson didn't even get a slap on the hand still has his liscens even

To be honest this is an issue that I very much ride the fence on because I have seen both sides of it up close and personal. Do not misunderstand me, I don't condone drinking and driving at all and I am terribly sorry for your loss and for the family in the article above. I am merely pointing out inconsistancies in sentencing and ineffective methods of punishment.

wow he only received 7 years? My husband and his brother were on their way to a friends house and at the sametime they were drinking and my husband was driving as he struck a tree with the vehicle and his brother died insatntly. My husband received 11 years in tdcj, and has yet made parole but he's up again in nov 2005

Well I will agree that there are a lot of inconsistencies with their sentencing and parole guidelines. We got 5 years for DWI and was denied first parole. Sounds almost the same as the above article and I don't think the charges are near as bad.

Inconsistencies in sentencing and other factors.
County of record has a major play in sentencing - 3 attorneys told me if my case had been handled in the adjoining county I would've received probation. As it was, I was dealing with whittling down a DA's 20 year prison term offer. An expensive defense counsel got me the 7 I ended up with.
Plea bargains vs. jury trial - In my sentencing county, you are gambling with major time if you decide to chance a jury trial.
I've seen mothers who throw their babies into trash dumpsters only get 3 years for manslaughter, then paroled after 18 months.
Then you see people like O.J., who was/is guilty as sin, get acquitted of a double homicide because of who he could afford.
Many times it's who you are, how much you can afford, and what state/county you're in.
As far as this Stephey guy is concerned, I knew he wasn't going to make his first parole. MADD thinks they're "all that" for stopping it and they didn't have a d*** thing to do with it. His file hit the table and then was opened so they could waste 5 seconds stamping "DENIED" on his form. Then it hit the Denied stack of "We'll see ya in a year or two". That's the way a first parole review is conducted around Texas, Mrs. Stephey.
Good luck on the next one. MADD will probably make the news again whenever that time comes around, cause they're sure going to try to make some noise about it.

Got that right Sefton. The arresting officer in our case was Ft. Worth, the arrest occured in Tarrant but because it was on the county line the officer managed to get it moved to Denton. In Tarrant he would have gotten probation. No appeal based on jurisdiction when you plea out which is the only thing to do in Denton apparently. Things that make you go hmmm...

Inconsistencies. My hubby received 10 years for his Intoxicated Assault. I, like Crack, ride the fence. My oldest son had a MADD rep come speak with them a few months ago and talk about the "victims", etc. I asked him if he said anything. He said, "No." It made my son feel like crap as the person talked about how his Dad (not specifically) is such a terrible awful person. What MADD forgets is the person doing the time has a family that hurts just as bad as the victims in a lot of cases. I told him the next time they come and speak and they talk about how they help victims' families to ask them to help you. And when they ask how he is a victim to tell them, "People like you helped put my Dad in prison for most of my childhood. Can you give that back to me?"

They will fight to keep my husband in and the only people that get hurt are his 4 kids that have to live without him. (me, too but I can handle it) I feel for the victims but TDCJ isn't the answer.

Sorry, this stuff just gets under my skin!

Kerri a Madd rep was just at my daughter's school discussing this very case with the kids. She came home in tears over what the lady from Madd said about drunk drivers. Needless to say I was less than happy. Alcoholism is not a choice, it is a disease; no one makes the decision to get drunk and kill someone. Madd skews the statistics in their favor to spread fear. In over 50% of accidents involving alcohol the driver who was drinking is not the one at fault. I understand there is a very real need to keep drunk drivers off the road and I agree with that, I don't agree that prison is the answer for every case. Your's in relation to this is a perfect example of "arbitrary justice".

Thanks for the statistic, Crack. My husband has maintained for the last 2 years that the other person caused the accident. If you read the police report, the police didn't even try to find out what really happened at the scene. My husband was obviously drunk so it was his fault. (the other car hit him) Our attorney told us that if the other driver had been drunk, she, too, would have been charged along with my husband for I.A. I don't believe it but oh well, the past is the past.

I will be talking with the school about forewarning me the next time a MADD rep will be in my son's classroom. My youngest is blessed sometimes with his Autism, he won't put it all together. My oldest, though, he needs to let them know all the victims and that it isn't just the person in the car or that was physically hurt.

I couldn't agree with you more. Also just as an fyi-these statistics are available on the US Gov't. Dept. Of Transportation website.