The Cattaraugus County District Attorney is ruling out new charges against the drunk driver who caused the death of Gabby Kranock.
District Attorney Lori Rieman told the Olean Times Herald that she believes that bringing new charges against 21-year-old Skylar Hess in the wake of Kranock’s death would “be double jeopardy and violate the constitution” since Hess had already pled guilty to vehicular assault against Kranock and been sentenced.
She added that new charges “would have only resulted in a concurrent sentence to that imposed for Kayden Belleisle’s death, which would not have added more time.”
Hess was sentenced to 10-22 years in the incident, but because judge Ronald Ploetz ordered the sentences to be served concurrently and not consecutively, Hess could be out of prison in 27 months and will serve no longer than 7 years.
Both Rieman and Ploetz infuriate me. That is absolutely ridiculous. Skylar needs to spend a lot more time than 2.5 years in jail for taking someone’s life and maimming someone. Then she DIES due to HIS actions. He needs to be tried for that. And get the appropriate sentence for his actions. He was a habitual offender of underage drinking and driving and took pride in it!!
The decision by this judge to not charge Mr. Hess with more time behind bars is SICKENING, ( It would be against the constitution she says) REALLY , what constitution?? This whole country no longer follows the constitution and what it stands for. TWO innocent young lives were cut short do to the ignorance of a kid that was driving drunk, not even legal age to drink and then to get behind the steering wheel and literally shatter the life’s of two families and taking two young kids life’s. This decision and the sentence he was given is PATHETIC. SHAME on this judge and the so called laws that NY state thinks are right. THIS COUNTRY SICKENS ME. This judge should loose her gaval.