sentencing
Fairbanks man gets more than 7 years in friend's death
By Chris Freiberg
Published Saturday, June 14, 2008
A Fairbanks man will likely serve more than seven years in prison for his role in the 2006 death of his friend.
David Flaherty, 27, on Friday pleaded guilty in Fairbanks Superior Court to charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence.
He was driving near 215 Mile Parks Highway nearly two years ago when his Dodge pickup rolled into a ditch after a night of drinking with his friend, 25-year-old Ian McCarthy.
McCarthy was pronounced dead at the scene, and Flaherty suffered injuries to his upper body.
“What a tragedy that we have all come to this day,” McCarthy’s father, Terry, wrote in a statement read in court by prosecutors on Friday. “I am sad for my family, and I am also sad for your family.”
The elder McCarthy expressed hope that Flaherty would remember his friend and honor his memory while behind bars. Upon release, Flaherty will be required to speak to local students about the dangers of driving under the influence.
Before being taken into state custody, Flaherty embraced McCarthy’s family and said simply, “I’m very sorry.”
As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Flaherty will serve seven and a half years in prison, with four and a half suspended. He was transported to Fairbanks Correctional Center on Friday. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 23.
****
Though I'm happy to have this sentencing over, I'm heartsore today, for Ian, for Dave, for all of our families, who will continue to be affected profoundly by this accident.
I'm frustrated with the News Miners reporting of this incident, wanting to clarify that the guys were having drinks with their meal. That they hadn't gone out partying for a "night of drinking", that their poor decisions are somehow impacted, in my mind at least, by a culture that doesn't generally have much to say about our national past time of boozing. That I want people to be aware that shitty awful things like this happen when you think you're just hanging out and, for the paper to put it into the framework of partying, they do a disservice to every person who reads this article. Does that make sense? I can't tell anymore.
I've been thinking that maybe when Jamez and I move back to Alaska, if Dave would allow me to, I'd like to go around and talk to young people with him. To be able to say that I don't blame Dave, to talk about how guilty I feel for every time I got behind the wheel of a car after drinking, to say that we all have a role that we play in perpetuating ideas about drinking and driving.
I feel really inarticulate this morning. My sentences feel staccato, as though I can't find the flow. I miss Ian so goddamn much. I wish I had been able to be there yesterday, to give Dave a hug, to shake hands with Danielle, to hold up my folks. I wonder who was there, not because it's important…but maybe it is. I don't know.
I think sometimes we set these goals for ourselves - if I can make it through another birthday, another Solstice, if only the trial were over, if people talked about him more, if people talked about him less, if only then I would feel better, I'd heal faster or more completely. I have to remember that, even though this part is over, the pain goes on forever with different ways of showing itself.
Alex, I want to send you a special thank you. Many people have supported our family during the past two years, but you have been kind and consistent and gentle. This morning, before I even opened your note, I thought, "How nice, another note from A." You inhabit a distinctive place for me.
Solstice is one week away. I haven't talked to folks about what we're doing…I just keep saying fire at the Eagle, in the hopes someone else will pick up that ball. I don't know how to do this. In so many ways I feel prepared, and in others not at all.
By Chris Freiberg
Published Saturday, June 14, 2008
A Fairbanks man will likely serve more than seven years in prison for his role in the 2006 death of his friend.
David Flaherty, 27, on Friday pleaded guilty in Fairbanks Superior Court to charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence.
He was driving near 215 Mile Parks Highway nearly two years ago when his Dodge pickup rolled into a ditch after a night of drinking with his friend, 25-year-old Ian McCarthy.
McCarthy was pronounced dead at the scene, and Flaherty suffered injuries to his upper body.
“What a tragedy that we have all come to this day,” McCarthy’s father, Terry, wrote in a statement read in court by prosecutors on Friday. “I am sad for my family, and I am also sad for your family.”
The elder McCarthy expressed hope that Flaherty would remember his friend and honor his memory while behind bars. Upon release, Flaherty will be required to speak to local students about the dangers of driving under the influence.
Before being taken into state custody, Flaherty embraced McCarthy’s family and said simply, “I’m very sorry.”
As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Flaherty will serve seven and a half years in prison, with four and a half suspended. He was transported to Fairbanks Correctional Center on Friday. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 23.
****
Though I'm happy to have this sentencing over, I'm heartsore today, for Ian, for Dave, for all of our families, who will continue to be affected profoundly by this accident.
I'm frustrated with the News Miners reporting of this incident, wanting to clarify that the guys were having drinks with their meal. That they hadn't gone out partying for a "night of drinking", that their poor decisions are somehow impacted, in my mind at least, by a culture that doesn't generally have much to say about our national past time of boozing. That I want people to be aware that shitty awful things like this happen when you think you're just hanging out and, for the paper to put it into the framework of partying, they do a disservice to every person who reads this article. Does that make sense? I can't tell anymore.
I've been thinking that maybe when Jamez and I move back to Alaska, if Dave would allow me to, I'd like to go around and talk to young people with him. To be able to say that I don't blame Dave, to talk about how guilty I feel for every time I got behind the wheel of a car after drinking, to say that we all have a role that we play in perpetuating ideas about drinking and driving.
I feel really inarticulate this morning. My sentences feel staccato, as though I can't find the flow. I miss Ian so goddamn much. I wish I had been able to be there yesterday, to give Dave a hug, to shake hands with Danielle, to hold up my folks. I wonder who was there, not because it's important…but maybe it is. I don't know.
I think sometimes we set these goals for ourselves - if I can make it through another birthday, another Solstice, if only the trial were over, if people talked about him more, if people talked about him less, if only then I would feel better, I'd heal faster or more completely. I have to remember that, even though this part is over, the pain goes on forever with different ways of showing itself.
Alex, I want to send you a special thank you. Many people have supported our family during the past two years, but you have been kind and consistent and gentle. This morning, before I even opened your note, I thought, "How nice, another note from A." You inhabit a distinctive place for me.
Solstice is one week away. I haven't talked to folks about what we're doing…I just keep saying fire at the Eagle, in the hopes someone else will pick up that ball. I don't know how to do this. In so many ways I feel prepared, and in others not at all.