Joseph Gonzales stood in Circuit Court, ready to face his sentencing Friday.
In September of 2009, Gonzales was behind the wheel of an SUV that slammed into a utility pole near Whitmore Village.
Gonzales, a soldier with Schofield Barracks, apparently fell asleep at the wheel and was driving drunk.
"By his own restitution, he was undergoing long periods of long blinking,” said deputy prosecutor, Scott Bell.
His passenger Jeremy Muncert, also a Schofield soldier, was crushed in the accident and suffered life threatening injuries.
His family says he was left with severe traumatic brain injury.
"On behalf of the Muncert family I plead with this court to impose a fair and just sentence,” said the prosecuting attorney.
The prosecution asked that Gonzales be sentenced to five years behind bars.
The defense didn’t deny that Gonzales made a poor decision that night, but asked for no jail time.
Gonzales, a bronze star recipient, says he has not forgiven himself for what happened. "People say that in order for someone to forgive you, you have to forgive yourself and that’s the hardest thing for me to do has been is forgive myself,” he said.
Judge Ed Kubo says he suffered many hours of mental torture coming to a verdict in this tragic case, calling both men war heroes.
"This is a tragedy of not only two soldiers in the U.S. Army, the army has lost out in this case and the two families have,” said Judge Kubo.
Judge Kubo ruled that Gonzales be sentenced to one year in jail, pay several fines and go through a substance abuse program.
"The defense felt there is no need for vengeance. Gonzales has suffered as has Mr. Muncert. Neither ones lives will either be the same,” said defense attorney, Rustam Barbee.
The family of Jeremy Muncert was not in court but sent a statement saying they are shocked and frustrated by the verdict, adding that their son has the rest of his life to pay for what this man did.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
