Drunken driver gets 14-20 years

Declaring "this was no accident," a judge sentenced Clinton Haskins Thursday to 14 to 20 years in prison for killing eight college students in a drunken-driving collision.

Haskins, 22, also was ordered to pay $81,042 in restitution to the families of the victims and fined $8,008 by District Judge Jeffrey A. Donnell.

"You chose to get behind the wheel of a 10,000-pound truck and drive drunk," Donnell told Haskins in an 18-minute address after hearing almost five hours of testimony from friends and relatives of the victims and Haskins in the packed courtroom.

Haskins, of Maybell, Colo., pleaded guilty Feb. 7 to eight counts of aggravated vehicular homicide that stemmed from the Sept. 16, 2001 crash.

Under the plea, prosecutors recommended a penalty of 14 to 20 years in prison for each count served concurrently. He could have received up to 160 years in prison and an $80,000 fine if the case had gone to trial.

The head-on collision wiped out two-thirds of the University of Wyoming's cross-country team: Joshua Jones, 22, of Salem, Ore.; Kevin Salverson, 19, of Cheyenne; Nick Schabron, 20, of Laramie; Shane Shatto, 19, of Douglas; Morgan McLeland, 21, of Gillette; Kyle Johnson, 20, of Riverton; Justin Lambert-Belanger, 20, of Timmins, Ontario; and Cody Brown, 21, of Hudson, Colo.

Haskins, a member of the university's rodeo team, was hospitalized five days with a concussion and other injuries. He graduated this spring while free on $100,000 bond.

Facing about 60 relatives and friends of the victims, a sobbing Haskins said, "I am responsible for all of this. And for that I am truly sorry.

"There will never be a day in my life that I will not think of your sons, brothers, nephews, cousins and grandsons."

Donnell said he appreciated that Haskins had spoken three times to youth groups and appeared remorseful, but said "eight truly outstanding -- the best of the best -- young men died."

Friends and relatives of Haskins asked the judge to show some mercy for a young man who has no other felonies and simply made a terrible mistake in judgment. However prosecutor Cal Rerucha asked the judge to remember the victims.

Richard Lambert-Belanger, father of a victim, criticized Haskins for attending basketball games after the accident.

But Debbie McLeland, mother of Morgan McLeland, took a softer stance, and asked Haskins to someday join her in speaking to youths about alcohol abuse.

"I have to forgive because I do not have room in my life to hate anymore," she said.

Haskins, the last one to speak, deviated from his prepared statement and took up the offer.

"Mrs. McLeland, I would be more than happy to do whatever you would like me to and assist however I can."

For the complete story see today's News-Record.