Jason Cloutier, 35, was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for the DUI crash that killed two in June, 2013.
Sierra Woodward, 26, of Carson City and Mark Flora, 59, of Texas, died when his car hit Flora’s vehicle head-on on Highway 50 near Centennial Park. He was driving at an estimated 88 mph westbound in the eastbound lanes of the highway.
The crash caused the Flora’s vehicle to burst into flames. Woodward was Cloutier’s passenger.
Prosecutor Troy Jordan argued for the maximum 10-to-life sentence telling Judge James Wilson this was Cloutier’s fourth DUI arrest.
Public Defender Marci Ryba argued for the only other sentence allowed by law for a vehicular homicide conviction — 10-25 years in prison. The difference, she said, is those with life sentences often don’t qualify for the types of prison programs Cloutier needs for his mental health and alcoholism problems.
Wilson didn’t agree, pointing out the defendant had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system, was speeding on the wrong side of the road and had three prior DUI convictions.
“Your statement says you know better not to drink and drive but you did,” he said.
Because vehicular homicide is a Category A felony, Cloutier is not eligible for any good time credits and is having to serve the entire minimum 10 years before becoming eligible for his first parole hearing.