Suspect in deadly DUI crash sent to jail before trial
SEATTLE - A man accused of killing two Decatur High School students just three days before graduation will spend the next year in jail.
A judge says after three alcohol-related driving infractions, Alexander Peder belongs behind bars - even before his vehicular homicide trial for the two deaths.
Peder earlier received what amounted to deferred sentences for his previous drunk driving violations - but those sentences are deferred no longer after a judge revoked them at a Thursday court hearing.
On June 9, three boys were in a car stalled on Interstate 5. A car plowed into them and two of the teens - Derek King and Nick Hodgins - were killed. The other teen was injured.
The driver of the other car was Alexander Peder. He had a half-empty bottle of vodka in the car with him and his blood alcohol level was .16 - two times the legal limit, police say.
Peder was in court today not because he killed two and injured a third, but because twice before he had been charged with DUI and a judge deferred a one-year sentence.
"With Mr. Peder we have passed the point where these DUI convictions are serving as a wake-up call," says Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Hinds.
Peder said nothing during Thursday's hearing. But the families of those who died because Peder was free did.
"These were three young, amazing men. You took two of them because you couldn't control yourself," Eryn Caessens, a cousin of the victims, said to Peder.
Her words were hard to listen today. Her tears spoke louder.
Minutes later, Judge Richard Bathum revoked the suspended sentence, ordering Peder to jail for a year.
"It's a sad state of affairs when two young boys - my son and my friend's son - have to be killed to get someone to be charged with a DUI," said Randall King, the father of one victim.
If convicted on the vehicular homicide charges, Peder will face up to seven years in jail. But the families say that's just not enough.
A judge says after three alcohol-related driving infractions, Alexander Peder belongs behind bars - even before his vehicular homicide trial for the two deaths.
Peder earlier received what amounted to deferred sentences for his previous drunk driving violations - but those sentences are deferred no longer after a judge revoked them at a Thursday court hearing.
On June 9, three boys were in a car stalled on Interstate 5. A car plowed into them and two of the teens - Derek King and Nick Hodgins - were killed. The other teen was injured.
The driver of the other car was Alexander Peder. He had a half-empty bottle of vodka in the car with him and his blood alcohol level was .16 - two times the legal limit, police say.
Peder was in court today not because he killed two and injured a third, but because twice before he had been charged with DUI and a judge deferred a one-year sentence.
"With Mr. Peder we have passed the point where these DUI convictions are serving as a wake-up call," says Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Hinds.
Peder said nothing during Thursday's hearing. But the families of those who died because Peder was free did.
"These were three young, amazing men. You took two of them because you couldn't control yourself," Eryn Caessens, a cousin of the victims, said to Peder.
Her words were hard to listen today. Her tears spoke louder.
Minutes later, Judge Richard Bathum revoked the suspended sentence, ordering Peder to jail for a year.
"It's a sad state of affairs when two young boys - my son and my friend's son - have to be killed to get someone to be charged with a DUI," said Randall King, the father of one victim.
If convicted on the vehicular homicide charges, Peder will face up to seven years in jail. But the families say that's just not enough.