Court Outcome NW Florida

[reloader]

The following article is from Brother rider Wrongway posted in the Gulf Coast Bikers News http://www.gulfcoastbikernews.com/

Get involved it does make a difference.

Howe to Serve 5 Years For Hitting Rob Shaffer

We all make decisions every day. Some are important, some are routine, most of them are good and hopefully very few are bad. In rare cases they can be life threatening. Whether we decide to wear a helmet or not is our legal choice, but some people decide whether or not to drink and drive and that is unlawful. The choices are yours, but so are the consequences of that action.

On a cool 50 degree March 24th morning more than 30 bikers representing groups like ABATE, Blue Knights, HOG and the American Legion Riders assembled in Room 405 of the Blanchard Judicial courthouse to hear what 1st Circuit Court Judge Joel Boles was going to say in the sentencing of a young man’s decision to drive drunk in a stolen vehicle, nearly kill one of our local brothers, and then leaving the scene of an accident. For two hours we sat listening to one sentencing after another on cases from cocaine sales within 1000 feet of a school, home invasion, burglary, theft, and so on. The maximum sentences ranged from 5 to 15 years in State lockup, but it seemed like most people were receiving the same punishment…9 months County time and 18 months probation plus fines and restitution.

With no time table posted for the cases we just waited and watched. Then, at 0940, the Judge took a 10 minute recess as 2 more Sheriff Deputies were added to the 3 already present. We knew the time was getting closer. After the recess one case was adjudicated before Brother Rob Shaffer got his first real look at the young man who made the decision to steal a vehicle, drive drunk against the advice of everyone telling him not to, who ran over Brother Rob while he was sitting on his PARKED motorcycle “safely” off of the road…Nicolas Blake Howe. Mr. Howe had pleaded “no contest” to the 5 charges leveled against him.

Before sentencing, Brother Rob was asked if he was going to address the Judge and he did. As he walked up to the microphone the court room fell totally silent for the first time that day. He told of spending more than a year building a custom bike that was destroyed. He told of his near fatal injuries, the surgeries he has gone thru and the surgeries yet to come. He spoke of loosing his job of 23 years because he was unable to perform for more than a year. And the impact this has had on his life which will never be the same. Then he asked the courts permission to let Gary “Satch” VerCrouse, President of the Gulf Coast Chapter of ABATE, speak. Judge Boles agreed, but asked that he be brief. Brother Satch complied and gave a very effective talk about ABATE and who they are. He explained that they have a lobbyist in Tallahassee and are actively trying to change laws and create stiffer penalties to help the Judge in cases just like this one. He also told the Judge how many biker funerals and hospital visits he has made just since the beginning of this year.

Judge Boles then turned to the 22 year old Mr. Howe and asked him if he had anything to say. Choking back tears and nearly unable to speak it took him at least 30 seconds to say that he was sorry and wished it had never happened.

Judge Boles found him guilty on all charges and sentenced him to 5 years (maximum time currently allowed by law) in state prison with 5 years probation upon his release on each of his 3 main charges, but ordered they be served concurrently not consecutively. Random drug and alcohol testing and 2 alcohol abuse classes during his probation. He must make restitution to Brother Rob as well as to the owner of the vehicle he stole and crashed, as well as a third vehicle that was also damaged to the tune of $19,000. The total amount of restitution is still to be determined.

A Sheriff’s Deputy immediately approached Mr. Howe, cuffed him and walked him over to the side of the court room where they started his processing. He had walked into the court room about 90 minutes earlier a free man wearing an untucked sport shirt and jeans with his lawyer, wife and mother but left with uniformed officers. I do not believe that either Mr. Howe or his legal representation expected this to be his fate when they were working on his defense. However, it was clear that his counsel had second thoughts when he saw the amount of leather clad observers seated in the rear of the room. 30+ bikers silently and uniformly stood turned to the right and walked out.

Keep it in the wind…

Wrongway