Poor boat "handling"

[sneuman]

OSWEGO, N.Y. (AP) - A man charged in a deadly boat collision is
rejecting a plea deal that would have brought him up to four years
in state prison.
Prosecutors say 21-year-old Brad Bouthillier of Cicero was
partying with friends and kissing a woman sitting on his lap
moments before the crash that killed 85-year-old fisherman John
Kowalewski last summer on Oneida Lake.
Bouthillier is also accused of fleeing the scene without getting
help for Kowalewski. Another boater found Kowalewski dead inside
his drifting boat about two hours after the accident.
Prosecutors wanted him to plead guilty to criminally negligent
homicide Monday. Oswego County Judge Walter Hafner says any deal he
accepts must include prison time for Bouthillier.

[GordMay]

The accused, Brad Bouthillier, has rejected a plea-bargain offer, plead not guilty, and questioned the accuracy of the State’s pre-plea investigation report.
Perhaps we shouldn’t pre-judge the young man , ahead of his trial.

[Pblais]

Perhaps we shouldn’t pre-judge the young man , ahead of his trial.

The facts of the case are not really in question. The issue seems to be if he is willing to take the plea bargain or not. He is just trying to decide if he gets a better deal from the grand jury. Rejecting this agreement does not mean another won't be offered. The judge seems bent of sending him to state prison.

Central NY seems to get several of these cases every year (having lived there growing up). As bad as this one was there have been far worse from a death and destruction point of view. Boats going at high speeds out of control tend to do things like this. Leaving the scene and alcohol tend to also not to be uncommon either.

[Unicorn Dreams]

WHAT, you mean the judge thinks he should go to prison for killing someone, how ghastly and unjust that is..

[S/V Illusion]

He's 21, probably drunk and has a girl sitting on his lap kissing him. So far, so good...
His lawyer should argue it's either the fault of the fisherman (in the act of attempted murder of a fish) or the girl as he clearly was doing everything right!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Sounds like someone on board has grassed on him.......for whatever reason (given nobody helped the fisherman for 2 hours doesn't sound like any 3rd party witnesses around).

I am tempted to say throw the book at the b#gger, but not having been there myself quite happy for a legal process to take it's course.

[David M]

If the accusations are correct, then the guy clearly needs to go to prison for second degree murder. Too many people just don't take boating safety seriously and this is one of the consequences...death. Boaters who are being safe should not have to tolerate jerks like this out on the water...whatsoever.

[Pblais]

doesn't sound like any 3rd party witnesses around

He was caught because another passenger of his boat turned him in the next morning so there is an eye witness. He was being asked to plea to "criminally negligent
homicide" which is death due to exceptionally stupid behavior plus leaving the scene. They never said he tried to kill him. That is a pretty fair plea bargain. The judge was even willing to let him serve the charges concurrently.

His family wanted to cut a deal without jail time but the judge won't hear it. So they go around and around until he pleads knowing he gets jail time or they hold out for a grand jury indictment. The jury would clearly send it to trial that is of no doubt. What charges they may throw at him are unknown and of course the judge won't see the case the same way if it goes to trial and he loses.