Henley gets 20 years for DUI Manslaughter

Tuesday afternoon Judge David Rimmer sentenced a Pace man to 20 years in prison for a DUI Manslaughter conviction.

Ronnie L. Henley, 50, of Pace was sentenced to 15 years for DUI manslaughter, 20 years for leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and for time served involving his possession of marijuana.

Rimmer ruled that the sentences for Henley would run concurrently establishing a total to serve of 20 years.

On April 10, 2010 Henley was arrested following a traffic accident on Highway 90 in Pace where he abruptly turned in front of a motorcycle being operated by Matthew Harrison.

The 29-year-old Harrison, who was from Cantonment, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s traffic investigation, the rear of Henley’s car ran over Harrison.

Harrison laid his motorcycle down in an attempt to avoid Henley’s car according to the Florida Highway Patrol report.

During the sentencing phase of Tuesday’s hearing, Henley’s attorney, Craig Vigodsky introduced the driving record of his client as well as that of Harrison’s into evidence.

Vigodsky challenged the points system used for sentencing.

“The inherent nature of this system is redundant,” Vigodsky said. “My client was charged with injury points as well as points for DUI manslaughter.

“Also in the testimony no one saw (Harrison’s) driving up to this incident. He would have had much more of a chance to survive if he was in a car; and if he was in a car there would have been a greater chance my client would have sustained significant injuries.”

Assistant State Attorney Jennie Kinsey pointed out at the time of the accident that Henley’s alcohol level was three time the legal limit and the fact that Henley himself has never shown any remorse for what occurred.

“Mr. Henley has refused to accept his responsibility for this accident,” Kinsey said. “In the letter from him read by his attorney he said ‘the role the family thinks he played.’

“He knew what was going on. It was still light outside, but he told those who stopped him that it was just a little dent, just a little bump. And on the witness stand he said he f’ed up.”

Witnesses, which included an off-duty Santa Rosa County Deputy Sgt. Jerry Salter, followed Henley who was later stopped at the intersection of Floridatown Road and Cotton Road where he was taken into custody.

“If you look at the deposition of Louis Nicoletti, Henley kept asking them why he was stopped and that he had no idea of what was going on,” Vigodsky said.

Harrison’s family, Beth and Michael Petersen, were stunned at the support they got from the community following the death of their son and are now trying to help raise a grandson that will never know his father.

“He had ridden a bike for years and purchased this one three weeks before the accident, Beth Petersen recalled. “Despite riding for years he took the class at Pensacola Junior College and I knew he was safe when it rode.

“The think I always told him to do was to watch out for the other driver be it a car or whatever.”

Also in the courtroom on Tuesday was Senator Greg Evers, who has introduced a bill establishing tougher penaltities for accidents involving motorcyclists along with members of the Gulf Coast Chapter of Florida ABATE.

“We were here today to support the family,” said Gulf Coast Chapter President Gary “Satch” VerCrouse. “All we are fighting for is equal rights, which is our biggest issue.

“In most cases people will say they didn’t see them, if they weren’t on a motorcycle, or it is only a biker. But our biggest thing is to fight for our right on the road just like anyone has a right to drive a car and do so safely.”

With the driving records of Henley and Harrison brought up in court VerCrouse was a little concerned.

“We are trying to get the killers off the road,” VerCrouse said. “Seventy percent of the people who are involved in traffic fatalities you can see it coming by looking at their previous driving record.

“It was brought up in court that Henley had a problem with alcohol for eight to 10 years prior to the accident and refused help, his accident has now led to a child growing up without knowing his father.”