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Former student receives jail time for role in fatal hit-and-run
Hall sentenced to six months behind bars on charge of hindering prosecution
Andrew Peters
Issue date: 6/9/08 Section: News
The passenger in the car that hit and killed UConn freshman Carlee Wines in January 2007 will face jail time for her role in the fatal hit-and-run, a judge decided Tuesday, July 8, in Rockville Superior Court.
Michelle A. Hall, 19, of Wantagh, N.Y., was sentenced to three years in prison, to be suspended after six months, and three years of probation after pleading guilty under the Alford Doctrine to one count of third-degree hindering prosecution on April 18.
A guilty plea under the Alford doctrine means that, though Hall does not admit guilt in Wines' death, she acknowledges that the state has enough evidence to convict her anyway.
She was originally charged with aiding and abetting evading responsibility, conspiracy to commit evading responsibility, hindering prosecution in the third degree, aiding and abetting identity theft in the third degree, inducing minors to procure liquor, aiding and abetting misrepresentation of age to procure liquor and conspiracy to commit misrepresentation of age to procure liquor. However, she only pled guilty to the charge of hindering prosecution as part of a plea agreement.
According to court documents, Hall had encouraged her then-boyfriend, Anthony P. Alvino, who was driving the car, to leave the scene of the accident after he hit Wines around 2 a.m. on Jan. 20, 2007. She then housed him and two other friends in her dorm room that night as police searched for them. Alvino was sentenced in January to 37 months in prison for his role in Wines' death.
After hours of emotional testimony in the downstairs courtroom, Judge Carl J. Schuman decided to levy the sentence that had been recommended by Tolland State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky - what Schuman called "a modest jail sentence and rigorous probation."
"Essentially the defendant put herself above the law," Schuman said in his decision. "In a society of laws, this result cannot be given impunity."
The conclusion was reached after addresses by Gedansky, Wines' family, defense attorney Emmanuel Gold and Hall herself. Gedansky opened the hearing with a summary of the state's case and a recommendation for a sentence.
Michelle A. Hall, 19, of Wantagh, N.Y., was sentenced to three years in prison, to be suspended after six months, and three years of probation after pleading guilty under the Alford Doctrine to one count of third-degree hindering prosecution on April 18.
A guilty plea under the Alford doctrine means that, though Hall does not admit guilt in Wines' death, she acknowledges that the state has enough evidence to convict her anyway.
She was originally charged with aiding and abetting evading responsibility, conspiracy to commit evading responsibility, hindering prosecution in the third degree, aiding and abetting identity theft in the third degree, inducing minors to procure liquor, aiding and abetting misrepresentation of age to procure liquor and conspiracy to commit misrepresentation of age to procure liquor. However, she only pled guilty to the charge of hindering prosecution as part of a plea agreement.
According to court documents, Hall had encouraged her then-boyfriend, Anthony P. Alvino, who was driving the car, to leave the scene of the accident after he hit Wines around 2 a.m. on Jan. 20, 2007. She then housed him and two other friends in her dorm room that night as police searched for them. Alvino was sentenced in January to 37 months in prison for his role in Wines' death.
After hours of emotional testimony in the downstairs courtroom, Judge Carl J. Schuman decided to levy the sentence that had been recommended by Tolland State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky - what Schuman called "a modest jail sentence and rigorous probation."
"Essentially the defendant put herself above the law," Schuman said in his decision. "In a society of laws, this result cannot be given impunity."
The conclusion was reached after addresses by Gedansky, Wines' family, defense attorney Emmanuel Gold and Hall herself. Gedansky opened the hearing with a summary of the state's case and a recommendation for a sentence.
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anonymous
posted 7/21/08 @ 3:00 PM EST
I completely agree with this article. UConn does not truly try to prevent accidents like this. Yes there will always be underage drinking at collge but there are plenty of other ways to get home without having to drive drunk. (Continued…)
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