" Oh yeah, he is definately getting a slap on the wrist. What kills me the most is that someone had the audacity to actually say that this accident was "likely" preventable. Do you work for my insurance company that says an accident where my car was hit while it was parked in front of my house was 20% my fault. How was this "likely" preventable. It was most definately preventable. Yes he is granted a fair trial, he choose not to have the trial by pleading guilty. If he feels the sentence is not fair then he can request a fair trial, but think about it, why did he want to make a plea bargin? because he knew that the odds were not in his favor. The difference between him and the inmates you are talking about is that he was caught red handed. What about the people that get away with murder, what are the families of thier victims? There needs to be fair justice, that means punishing the gulity, not saying oh poor baby you messed up, try not to do it again. "

" Sugar - I could not agree with your post more! It is about time that some persons speak of what is right and just in this world! "

" Sounds to me a deal has been worked out under the table. If they are wanting to allow him to have a gun to hunt, apparently he isnt going to be in jail if he is going hunting, anyone ever think about that? This smells of probation. "

" Carroll, you have a right to your opinion.
You are heartless in your sly attempts to sway public attention to the parents regarding "blood-money" rather than Wade's actions. If you went to class or had any class you would know, being a armchair lawyer, that underage victims canonly have insurance paymnent approved thry a court approved settlement. Parents can only access the money for the wealthfare of the child, not purchase cars. Been there, done that. Your cold comment about the insurance money is a insult to the families. Reading you posts, I know you wouldn't have the guts to apologize. Don't worry, your whacked out personal filters probably tell you that your justified in pouring salt in a wound.

Your heartless post shows the shallowness of your character. "Blood-money" No money will replace the the lovliness of 14 year old girl, the future or the pains of her friends. No money replaces the lonliness of holidays and birthdays. You heartless most shows your disregard of the victims. Imagine, if you can, what it would be like coming onto a scene and seeing paramedic working on your child. Think what it would feel like to see your loved one breathing with the help of a machine. Think of what it would be like to hold your daughter as she awakes from nightmares and knowing she lost her best friend.

Your underage buddy drove drunk, killed a girl and violently hurt two others. He then lied to a good samaritan, who later started cpr on one girl, and in doing so was almost hit again by you misunderstood buddy.

HE DROVE DRUNK, KILLED, LIED, DROVE HOME. He expects to not do time? A young girl will never have a lifem a young girl will never have birthdays. Two young girls will never be able to remember thsat night and never be able to say goodbye. "Blood-money"! How heartless can you be. Say hello to Wade's parents next time your over there for dinner.

Who knows, if the good samaritan wasn't there, we would have never known what happend. From how the parents have acted, they don't really care.

I refuse to let you try to be the make up artist for the prince of the compound. Lipstick on a killer is still a murderer. "

" Carroll, you have a right to your opinion.
You are heartless in your sly attempts to sway public attention to the parents regarding "blood-money" rather than Wade's actions. If you went to calss or had any class you would know, being a armchair lawyer, that underage victims canonly have insurance paymnent approved thry a court approved settlement. Parents can only access the money for the wealthfare of the child, not purchase cars. Been there, done that. Your cold comment about the insurance money is a insult to the families. Reading you posts, I know you wouldn't have the guts to apologize. Don't worry, your whacked out personal filters probably tell you that your justified in pouring salt in a wound.

Your heartless post shows the shallowness of your character. "Blood-money" No money will replace the the lovliness of 14 year old girl, the future or the pains of her friends. No money replaces the lonliness of holidays and birthdays. You heartless most shows your disregard of the victims. Imagine, if you can, what it would be like coming onto a scene and seeing paramedic working on your child. Think what it would feel like to see your loved one breathing with the help of a machine. Think of what it would be like to hold your daughter as she awakes from nightmares and knowing she lost her best friend.

Your underage buddy drove drunk, killed a girl and violently hurt two others. He then lied to a good samaritan, who later started cpr on one girl, and in doing so was almost hit again by you misunderstood buddy.

HE DROVE DRUNK, KILLED, LIED, DROVE HOME. He expects to not do time? A young girl will never have a lifem a young girl will never have birthdays. Two young girls will never be able to remember thsat night and never be able to say goodbye. "Blood-money"! How heartless can you be. Say hello to Wade's parents next time your over there for dinner.

Who knows, if the good samaritan wasn't there, we would have never known what happend. From how the parents have acted, they don't really care.

I refuse to let you try to be the make up artist for the prince of the compound. Lipstick on a killer is still a murderer. "

" carroll - Congrats, you have just won the idiot of the year award. Sure - lets all agree to trade our kids in on new cars. It is your last statement that makes everything else that you said worthless...

You are a pile of crap and your opinions are crap "

" Thank you, 'carroll' for your opinion or comment. You are the one that should have a 'cool head'. I was just stating what The Montana Standard Newspaper and KXLF TV News articles said.., "that the Butte-Silver Bow District Attorneys Office, Attorney Brad Belke where suggesting to the District Judge Brad Newman that a 'lighter sentence' or a 'far less' sentence might be appropriate in this court case." I was only stating what was said and printed. I value your opinion and hope that the 'right' decision will be made in this important court case. "

" I remember when workers in Butte who crossed pickett lines where brutally murdered. "Public opinion" was that they deserved a death sentence. Murdered for crossing a picket line - is that just and fair punishment too. "

" "I am not heartless or unsympathetic in viewing this matter." "[T]he only "best interest" served by this plea is Petersen's." Perhaps in all your fairness, you would prefer a public stoning?

In reality, your letter exposes the mind of a heartless and unsympathetic person. Furthermore, threatening the judge is just childish and immature.

Was the incident tragic and heart-rending for the family? For sure. Preventable? Likely.

Fortunately, in the USA we have a judicial system that is supposed to weed-through the facts. That's right, the facts and not the emotions. The court then applies the facts to the laws to arrive at a conclusion (guilt/innocence). The facts and the laws work together. Both sides use the facts to tell a story that benefits their side.

The lawyers make a lot of decisions before entering into plea deals - the story they have to tell, the quality of evidence, the credibility of witnesses, the quality of jurors, the time and expense, and the probablility of winning. Would you be willing to pay increased taxes to fund this trial and the next and the next and the next? And, if the state looses at trial after spending all that money, will you accept the verdict and pay the tab?

It's very easy to vent your emotions and moral outrage. But, the judicial process is supposed to be the place where cooler heads prevail. THEY are supposed to logically, methodically, reasonably, rationally and OBJECTIVELY look at ALL the facts.

EVERYONE is supposed to get a fair trial, NOT just YOUR friends and family. In Texas, 19 people were on death row for up to 35 years before the courts recently determined they were absolutely innocent of the crimes. They didn't get a fair trial and their lives have been ruined. Their family's lives have been ruined. The original victims got their justice though, didn't they? The original victims where happy that these men, these innocent men, where going to be put to death. Fair? Right? Just?

So, take a chill pill and let the people who have responsibility do their jobs.

Rather than demand punishment, why don't you demand fairness instead?

It won't be long until the families seek to financially benefit from the death / injuries of the children. That too is a reality of such a truly tragic event. Will your moral outrage still be intact when you see one of the girls parents driving that new car right after getting their blood-money check from Peterson's insurance company? "

" Excellent opinion piece. It is about time people started standing up and saying what almost everyone in town is feeling. "

" The prosecution ran a very big risk of trying this case in another jurisdiction that could have easily come back with a not guilty verdict. Petersen has not been sentenced yet so you can not say he got a light sentence. The judge could easily sentence him to 40 years. Plea bargins are never taken lightly. There are a number of factors that enter in, most the public is never aware of. I am glad that he is finally off the streets and in jail. The goal is always a guilty verdict or guilty plea, they got that. "

" This is not the first time that a tragedy has happened in this community where the sentence seems light. How about the gal who drove her car into someones house and killed a man while he was in his bed? One would think that a fair sentence would someday come but for some reason it does not.

I dont honestly know what a fair sentence would be? I dont know what goes on behind closed doors and why such things take place.

I guess a true sentence will be when they meet their almighty creator! "

" Very good opinion/comment on the "Wade Petersen" court case. Although.., the word 'disservice' to the community, the judicial system, family and friends of the victim's might be a little soft. Maybe, the words 'public outrage' would be more appropriate. If Wade Petersen receives a 'far less' sentence.., this community will be outraged. Plea-bargaining was 'not' the way to go in this court case. And yes.., I am taking another look at Assistant District Attorney Eileen Joyce. "