In a surprise move, a youth who killed two motorcyclists and maimed their passengers when he crossed the center line and hit them in New Mexico has pleaded "no contest" to charges related to the crash.

His penalty?

A $125 fine.

Gerald Bailon, then 15 years old, was driving a pickup truck alone on a learner's permit near Taos, New Mexico, on May 30, 2004 when his truck crossed the center line and hit a motorcycle ridden by Leslie Walker, 59, of Colorado, killing him. Walker's passenger, Kathleen Pullara, lost her left leg below the knee as a result of the crash.

Timothy Searles, 41, and his wife, Jennifer, were riding a bike along with Walker. Timothy died later from injuries he suffered in a crash while avoiding the pickup, and Jennifer suffered crippling injuries.

Later, District Attorney Donald Gallegos dropped manslaughter charges against Bailon, saying the charges wouldn't stand up in court because of the legal requirements necessary to charge someone with manslaughter, or the greater charge of vehicular homicide.

Gallegos referred the case to another district attorney for review, who ultimately charged Bailon with careless driving, driving left of center, and driving without a license.

On July 19 of this year, Bailon pleaded not guilty to the charges. But later that day, Bailon returned to court and changed his plea to "no contest."

The magistrate accepting the plea dropped the charge of driving without a license because Bailon, now 16, had obtained a driver's license since the time of the crash.

The magistrate then fined Bailon $125 and ordered the youth to pay $110 in court costs.

 

wow, thats pretty messed up

 

So much for the crimial case. Think the civil case will settle for 100 bucks?

 

Whatever a civil case brings- which won't be much- it couldn't possibly replace the loss. That young man is going to have to live with this forever. Whoever owned the vehicle will have to share in that responsibility, I assume, right?? So, many lives were affected by this stupidity.

 

I readabout this over at Bikeland.what a sad story...

 

Yeah, I found it on a biker site. Not sure which one though. Being a biker myself it makes me worry about the idiocity of some of the general public.

Sure glad I have awesome life & accident insurance.

 

I have ZERO pitty for the punk kids stupidity in he has to live with that the rest of his days.

Has this country really sunk to lows like this?

Accountability for oneself is a thing of the past I guess.

 

And that is probably what the judge took into account as well! This already wrecked two lives (the two crippled survivors) and now you are faced with wrecking another life. Not to say I sympathize with the kid but I have heard of this type of ruling by judges for that exact reason.

 

Hell, that kid should have got more than that. I ride alot in the good weather and have had to slam on brakes/clutch, swerve, and honk because people don't watch where they are going. People, in general, are very stupid drivers. They don't use blinkers, they come to a rolling stop going around a corner without looking each way, etc. Have somebody drive a motorcycle a day and then they can see how stupid other drivers are.

 

The 16 year old kid is probally not looking at it like that.

If I was 16 again & if this happened to me, my thoughts would be....


I got away with this. What else can I do & get away with?


I can only imagine the irresponsibility. I wonder why all the prisons & jail are full to compacity?

 

What would be the penalty for a minor in that state?

A sad story to read about, was a elementary school teacher hit some kids crossing a street at night, killing two of the kids. Teacher kept going, did not stop to help, and then called the authorities a couple of days later. Sentenced to 3 years in jail, for leaving the scene and maybe some other stuff. Teacher would not have even received a ticket had she just stopped and done the humane thing. Kids not crossing a busy street in the proper manner, and the driver freaking out afterwards - everyone loses.

 

2yrs in juvie hall if tried as a minor in NM. Sad story.

 

I spent a summer working for the County highway dept. after high school, let me say if you have ever been on a road patching crew on a busy highway you will get a quick realty check on the dangers involved betweem highway workers and drivers. I swear we were an obstruction to so many people everytime we were out there. Mostly women drivers in general or guys in little bitty compact cars.

 

My sense of right and wrong would have had a hand in haunting me. Yes, Kids are going to be thankful that they aren't going to jail, but do you really believe that youth is so far gone that they don't think about anyone else? Gosh, I hope you're wrong...