‘Standard' sentence for felony DUI conviction

September 19, 2006

By MARY AMES/Frontiersman

PALMER -A Valley man who disappeared in the middle of his trial for felony driving under the influence received a &#8220standard” sentence in Palmer Superior Court Monday.

Christopher G. Holsclaw, 28, was arrested for DUI in December and found guilty by a jury in an April trial. But before the state could present evidence of his previous DUI convictions, Holsclaw disappeared and didn't return to court until he was arraigned in Palmer District Court July 4, according to court records.

Judge Beverly Cutler said Holsclaw's hearing was a &#8220standard felony DUI sentencing.”

Richard Payne, assistant district attorney, told the court Holsclaw also had been picked up for driving with no valid license four times and said the court could feel comfortable with handing down a sentence of 24 months with the &#8220standard” amount of suspended time.

&#8220The defendant was supposed to be on ankle monitoring,” Payne said. &#8220But he fled and he was at bay for quite a while.”

Holsclaw's breath alcohol level registered .194 - more than double the legal limit - and this was his third conviction since 1996, he said.

Elizabeth Varela, Holsclaw's public defender, asked the judge to hand down the mandatory minimum sentence, which is 18 months with 14 months suspended she said. On the charge of driving with no valid operator's license, Varela asked for 30 days.

She acknowledged her client was over the legal limit, but said he was working through a lot of problems at that time, Varela said.

&#8220He got his GED while he was in jail,” she said. &#8220He turned himself around, and he wants to change.”

Holsclaw read a letter he wrote, saying while he was in jail he realized life is about consequences.

&#8220I blame no one but myself,” he said. &#8220I welcome the challenge of a route back to sober reality.”

Judge Cutler handed Holsclaw a sentence of 18 months in jail with 14 months suspended, a $10,000 fine, a lifetime driver's license revocation, forfeiture of his 1994 black Chevrolet and three years probation. The judge also sentenced Holsclaw to 30 days for driving with no valid license.

That sentence didn't reward Holsclaw for his behavior, nor did it punish him for going to trial, Judge Cutler said.

&#8220The bottom line is there are way too many felony DUIs,” she said. &#8220I have to wonder what don't they get. How irresponsible is it to risk other people?”

Judge Cutler told Holsclaw he had to decide his role was to be responsible, and that included getting treatment.

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.