DUI Suspect Posts Drinking Photos on Facebook While Awaiting Felony Death Charges
Should Facebook Photos Result in Tougher Bond Conditions for SC Man?
The 21-year old Lake Wylie man is awaiting trial on charges of felony driving under the influence resulting in death and reckless homicide after crashing his vehicle in which Travis James Pettus was killed. Isbell's blood-alcohol level was .0176 at the time of the crash, more than double the legal limit in SC. The incident occurred following a Halloween party in 2008 attended by both Isbell and Pettus.
Isbell's original bond stipulated he was to observe good behavior and not leave the state of South Carolina. The distraught family of the deceased Pettus found photos on Facebook of Isbell drinking and alerted York County Deputy Solicitor Willy Thompson; a hearing Thursday morning amended his bond to include house arrest and Isbell has been further forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages. Isbell was apparently under 21 in some photos and was on vacation in Tennessee in others.
While I in no way condone driving under the influence or underage drinking, can photos of Isbell with a case of beer be considered in violation of his bond if the judge didn't specify no drinking as one of the conditions? It's to be expected that photos or comments posted on Facebook or elsewhere on the internet are fair game to anyone choosing to use them, but are photographs of an individual with alcohol enough to impose a stiffer bond when it isn't clear that imbibing alcohol is in fact a violation?
Since pictures of Isbell in Tennessee appeared on Facebook, obviously that was in violation of the order that he remain in state and he should be held accountable, but if the drinking had occurred in the state of SC, would the drinking alone have been a violation? Who decides what constitutes 'good behavior'?
This writer believes the judge dropped the ball on this one. Charges stemming from an alcohol related death should automatically include a 'no drinking' stipulation at the bond hearing, and not be amended as an afterthought when the accused is caught doing twelve-ounce curls.
Sources:
Personal Opinion
HeraldOnline.com
Published by Marie Anne St. Jean - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
A Top 1000 Content Producer for the last three years, Marie Anne is a retired U.S. Marine MSgt whose weapons of choice are now crochet hook and pen. When not writing for Yahoo! sites such as YCN! Voice... View profile
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24 Comments
Post a CommentJust sad from every angle.
A drunk driver destroyed my spine and screwed up my life. Thankfully, I survived, but through my survival, I live to see more people hurt by drunk drivers. I hope this idiot gets life in prison without any chance at parole. Let him live his life behind bars and think everyday about the life he took.
Nice job reporting this and good question posed about the Facebook photos. I really would have to think about this. However, I guess I am biased to begin with because of my experience with a drunk driver. And one, who also had not a drop of remorse.
Jason didn't post pictures on FB - someone else did. He did go to TN but not to be rude and it wasn't a party week it was just going somewhere on springbreak. He hasn't been drinking and driving since the accident and Travis was his bestfriend. Travis did the same stuff and I know that for sure - he was lucky enough to not be in an accident. Jason messed up but don't we all. I did the same thing he did 20 years ago but was blessed enough not to be in an accident.
What I can't fathom is that fact that this person killed someone and while on bond, he posts fun pictures of himself on Facebook. Intentional murder, no. But has he no remorse or shame?
He obviously had no remorse if he continued to drink even after killing another human being by drinking and driving.
I don't care where it's posted, IT'S PROOF! Drinking and driving don't mix !!! and murder is murder to me, whatever the condition.
I agree with you on this. As everyone else said, it's a no-brainer that those with alcohol-related charges, especially those resulting in death, should be banned from alcohol! Great piece on a sensitive and sad subject.
I agree with Fern! Very interesting article!
It would seem to be a no brainer that someone arrested on a drinking-related charge would be forbidden to drink!
I'm against alcohol period, and nobody deserves leniency when they drink and cause personal injury or property damage. Killing someone under the influence should be murder in some degree. It's not like people don't know of possible outcomes. Gee, besides the deaths, I wonder if alcohol related illnesses and injuries have an effect on the cost of insurance premiums? Duh. I resent paying for idiots.