Josh Brent Gets 6 Months Jail for Fatal DUI Crash

Josh Brent, an ex-Dallas Cowboys and University of Illinois football player, was sentenced to six months in jail and 10 years probation for a fatal DUI crash.

Brent was convicted of intoxication manslaughter after a drunk driving accident in Dallas killed his friend and former Illinois teammate, Jerry Brown.

Brent was sentenced under Texas laws, but what are the laws in Illinois?

]]>
Brent’s Sentencing

Since the fatal DUI accident occurred in Dallas, Brent’s criminal case and sentencing were carried out in Texas. A Texas jury sentenced him to 10 years probation, 180 days in jail, and a $10,000 fine for the drunk driving accident that killed Brent’s friend.

Brent was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Under Texas laws, Brent could have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. However, he only received 6 months of actual jail time.

To determine his sentence, the jury likely considered factors like Brent’s criminal history, personal and economic circumstances, and his regret or remorse. Although Brent was previously convicted of a DUI in Illinois, jurors likely considered his deep regret and remorse for killing one of his close friend in a tragic accident when they handed down his arguably lenient sentencing.

What’s The Law in Illinois?

If Brent was involved in a DUI that killed his passenger in Illinois, the outcome could be different. Under Illinois statutes, a DUI that results in death to someone other than the driver is considered at least an aggravated DUI and is a Class Four felony.

According to the Illinois state police, people convicted of aggravated DUIs in Illinois can face:

• Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of one year.
• Mandatory ten day imprisonment or 480 hours of community service.
• Imprisonment for up to 12 years.
• Pay a maximum fine of $25,000

The actual sentence a person convicted of a DUI will receive depends on the facts of their case and any potential defenses provided by his or her Chicago-area DUI attorney.

Hopefully, this tragic accident deter Brent’s fans and other NFL players from drinking and driving in the future.

Related Resources:

• Ex-Cowboys player gets 180 days jail for drunk-driving death (Reuters)
• Josh Brent’s Blood Alcohol Level: How Many Drinks Is That? (FindLaw’s Tarnished Twenty)
• Dallas Cowboys’ Josh Brent Charged in Teammate’s Death (FindLaw’s Tarnished Twenty)
• Aggravated DUI (FindLaw)