Small Town News
Schuchard sentenced to 65 months
Email
Print
CopyJames Schuchard, was sentenced to 65 months in prison after pleading guilty in December to three counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence.
Mason County Superior Court Judge Toni Sheldon sentenced Schuchard on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
"It's the high end of the standard range, which is a product of his offender score," said Mason County Prosecutor Mike Dorcy.
Schuchard, a former North Mason School District student, was involved in a single-vehicle wreck at about 3 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2011 on State Route 3 about one mile north of Allyn.
The wreck left three other former North Mason School District students dead —Bryan Blackburn, 22, NMHS class of 2008; Daniel Tedder, 20, PACE class of 2009; and Tyler Janku-nas, 20, NMHS/Homelink class of 2009.
Medics from Mason County Fire District 5 extricated Schuchard from the vehicle, a 1990 Chevrolet Corsica, and airlifted him to Harbor-view Medical Center in Seattle.
A fifth victim in the wreck, Benjamin Blackburn, 18, was able to walk from the crash site, but medics transported him to Mason General Hospital in Shelton for further treatment.
The remaining matter to resolve is the order of restitution, which the victims' families will submit before a hearing is scheduled, Dorcy said.
"It is limited to out-of-pocket costs, like funeral expenses, related to the crime, so not things like pain and suffering," he said. "Most of these families see this kid as one of their own, so I doubt they'll sue him."
Copyright 2012 Belfair Herald, Belfair, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
More from Belfair Herald