June 28, 2008|By Kevin Rector | Kevin Rector,Sun Reporter
Last month, Gagnon pleaded no contest to five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault. Under that plea, he faced up to 50 years in prison.
Yesterday, he received seven years for each vehicular homicide count and four years for each assault count.
"You have a drinking problem, and you don't even know it," Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings told Gagnon.
The prosecutor, Lingo, who described the courtroom scene yesterday as "very difficult, very moving and very emotional," said that he was pleased with the judge's decision and believes the victims' family is as well.
"We didn't ask for a particular number of years," he said. "I try not to put a judge in a box in a situation like this. I think it's a harsh sentence, but I think it was a horrific crime, so I think it's appropriate."
For Griffin, the sentencing yesterday brought an end to having to focus on such worries as court dates for the criminal case, he said.
"I don't know about closure so much as I'm happy that today is over, and we got that aspect of this behind us as a family," he said.
He also said he hopes the "stiff sentence" will send a message that drunken driving should be taken more seriously.
"If nothing else, I hope that, based on what was handed down today, it might make people think twice about what they do and the decisions they make," he said.
Griffin now speaks about drunken driving to high school students, who, he said, listen closely.
"Going forward, I just plan on doing as much of that as I can, because I would hate to see this happen to another family, and whatever I can do to prevent that, I'm going to do," he said.
kevin.rector@baltsun.com
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
