Saturday, November 1, 2008

Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Hit & Run Accident: My Take


Guilty. He's admitted to hitting a Hilbert College student and fleeing the scene, and just a couple days ago John Duffy stood before a judge in State Supreme Court. Duffy pleaded guilty to a felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in connection with the death of Meghan Sobrera.

Sobrera was killed just a few weeks ago on South Park Avenue in Hamburg. She was on her way back from working at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, and was walking to Hilbert with friends when she was fatally struck by Duffy's SUV.

Police believe Duffy was drinking at the time of the crash, but they can't prove it because Duffy fled the scene and didn't turn himself in until 5 days later.

Duffy should be ashamed of himself. By fleeing the scene, he failed to take responsibility for his actions. The sentence that he now faces is 2 1/2 to 7 years for fleeing the scene of the crash. He's going to be disbarred.

He's an attorney who is using the law to his benefit. Even though Duffy's attorney continues to defend his client saying he thought he hit a garbage can, I say Duffy's not stupid, he knew that if he struck someone and fled the scene he'd face a lesser charge than if he stopped and took responsiblity for his actions.

Duffy's sending a message to others, "Hey, if you're drinking and driving and get into a crash, you can run, and you will get away on a lesser charge".

Shame on him and shame on anyone who is involved in a drinking and driving crash who doesn't take responsibility for his or her actions.


Deanna

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