Update- sentencing of hit and run death of cyclist

[bikerchick68]

I am frankly surprised that they gave him this strong a sentence. It's about time... truly sad for everyone involved...

SAN DIEGO -- A judge sentences a Mira Mesa man to three years in state prison for killing a Marine Corps officer in a hit-and-run.

Jose Cifuentes pleaded guilty to the hit-and-run accident, which killed Capt. Patrick Klokow in August.

Klokow was riding his bike to work on Kearny Villa Road when he was hit and died at the scene.

Cifuentes stopped briefly but then drove away. He was pulled over about four hours later.

During the sentencing, Klokow's widow, Anne, also in the military and now on assignment, testified on videotape, describing her time of complete darkness, telling how she lost her best friend, the man who never stopped holding her hand.

Then Klokow's mother and father spoke.

"There will be no more 'Hey mom, what's cooking?' No more letters of 'Dear Mom and Dad,'" said Klokow's mother, Myrna.

"He was loved by enlisted men and officers," said Klokow's father, Richard.

Cifuentes wrote a letter of apology, saying there is great pain in his soul.

Judge David Danielsen spoke of the terrible loss that day, the defendant's remorse and the callousness of the crime.

"How could you leave a human being alonside the road and then lie about it?" Danielsen asked Cifuentes.

Danielsen said he had no doubt that Klokow died almost instantly. He said if Cifuentes had stopped, it wouldn't have helped, but that doesn't excuse running away.

[caligurl]

sounds like he got the "stiff" penalty (i still don't think 3 years if very "stiff" for killing someone)... for running away moreso than actually hitting him....

thanx for the update... and if this is the most severe he could get.. them i'm darned glad that is what he got!!!!