Ann Arbor man to remain in prison for fatal hit-and-run crash
George Feezel will remain behind bars for a few more months.
The Ann Arbor man convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal crash in 2005 was sentenced to serve up to five years in prison, court records show.
George Feezel
Circuit Judge Archie Brown credited him for more than four years and three months already served between jail and prison stemming from his 2007 trial conviction, leaving a balance of roughly 8 months. Feezel was convicted in January 2007 of driving while intoxicated and causing a death, and Brown sentenced him to up to 30 years in prison.
Feezel, 25, was granted a second trial by the Michigan Supreme Court in a 4-3 ruling issued in May. The court ruled the jury should have heard testimony that the pedestrian Feezel struck with his vehicle also had been drinking and ruled the marijuana byproduct in Feezel's system wasn't illegal.
Feezel later opted not to go to trial and pleaded no contest to the charge, which stemmed from the death of Pittsfield Township resident Kevin Bass, 39, on Packard Road at about 2 a.m. July 21, 2005. Feezel was also sentenced as a habitual offender for his third arrest.
A civil suit filed by Bass’ family is pending in Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
diagbum
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
according to the Mlive.com article - http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/05/michigan_supreme_court_to_hear.html - "At sentencing, prosecutors argued Feezel was driving without a license after partying with drugs and alcohol to celebrate his release from an electronic tether, which had been required as part of his probation on drug and theft convictions." I sure hope Mr Feezel doesn't have a similar party when he's released in roughly 8 months.
PR of AA
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 : 5:01 p.m.
CORRECT!!! It is not an admission of guilt BUT, it is used as a guilty plea for sentencing. So I would imagine he is trying, like any of us would, to get this over with and begin serving his sentence.
diagbum
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 : 3:59 a.m.
Pleading "No contest" is NOT a admission of guilt! (i.e. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolo_contendere) If he felt remorse he would plead guilty and throw himself at the mercy of the court and hope for a light sentence. This man operated his vehicle under the influence of alcohol multiple times. He happened to be apprehended three times. The third time was apprehended operating under the influence of alcohol he killed a man walking across the street. This man deserves to spend every second of the original 30 year sentence he originally received.
PR of AA
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.
@ diagbum: "And he doesn't seem very remorseful for his actions by pleading no contest. Third offense as well. Wow! I hope this guy knows how lucky he really is..." How does pleading No contest determine his remorse??? He probably wanted to get this behind him ASAP and thought no contest was the best way to go.
Basic Bob
Sat, Aug 7, 2010 : 7:34 a.m.
If the police used a urine test to detect marijuana use, they did not prove the defendant was intoxicated or impaired. The urine test is flawed because it tests the presence of by-products rather than THC. They need to use a better test; i.e., field sobriety, saliva, or blood test. This will actually determine if the defendant is high, instead of whether he used in the days or weeks prior to the incident.
diagbum
Fri, Aug 6, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.
5 years that's it? Because the man who was run down while walking across the street was also drunk? Outrageous! And he doesn't seem very remorseful for his actions by pleading no contest. Third offense as well. Wow! I hope this guy knows how lucky he really is...