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PA Man With 7 Prior DUI Arrests Indicted For Aggravated Manslaughter In Fatal Crash
Tags: cape may court house, fatal accidents, fatal dui
Saturday, Sept 12 scene of fatal crash that claimed the life of Fredrick H. Shelton, 50. Photo by: Harry B. Scheeler, Jr.
COURT HOUSE - John J. Lawless, 37, of Philadelphia was indicted Tuesday, Jan 12, for aggravated manslaughter, a first-degree crime, in the Sept. 12, 2009 drunken driving crash that killed Lower Township resident Frederick Shelton, the Atlantic City Press reports.
According to the report, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Rob Johnson said Tuesday that Lawless, had a blood-alcohol content of .229, nearly three times the legal limit of .08.
Lawless was driving his Chrysler Sebring north on Route 9 near Bennetts Crossing in Lower Township when he veered into the southbound lane and collided head-on with Shelton's Ford Escort.
Sheri Shelton, 44, and her 13-year-old daughter, Brittany, were also in the vehicle at the time her husband was killed. Both were airlifted to Cooper University Trauma Center in Camden in critical condition.
Police Chief Edward Donohue said Lawless was arrested for DWI in Pennsylvania on the following dates, which are public record and obtained from a First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court Summary, which is available online:
• Oct. 3, 1996: Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrest.
• March 16, 1998: DWI arrest with minimum two months/maximum three months prison term, plead guilty.
• Sept. 7, 1998: DWI arrest with minimum two months/maximum three months prison term, plead guilty.
• April 29, 1999: DWI arrest. Plead guilty to recklessly endangering another person. Placed on one-year probation. Plead guilty to DWI, minimum two months/maximum three months prison term.
Lawless’ Pennsylvania driver’s license was suspended indefinitely on or about 2001.
• July 62, 2004: DWI arrest. Dismissed under speedy trial regulations.
• June 11, 2005: DWI arrest with minimum one year/maximum two-year prison term. Plead guilty.
• Dec. 24, 2008: Involved in a motor vehicle accident in Philadelphia, arrested for DWI and Criminal Mischief.
Case is due to be heard in Philadelphia Court in October 2009.
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Comments (8)
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Wed, 01/13/2010 - 3:50pm - Posted by: emkaydist
this guy has put some real work in with the system. A CASH COW if ya ask me. For the towns where the fines are imposed to the defense fees, everybody has been collecting nicely.
anybody know his defense lawyer by chance? This must be one crafty attorney.
Come to think of it............................who's fault is this again?
How many good for nothing prosecutors took these deals without contention?
Mister Lucky Lawless even caught a dismissal back in 2004 when he was under indefinite suspension which should have been imposed earlier in his illustrious driving career.
Does this guys daddy own a politician somewhere? just curious.
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:23pm - Posted by: maryvic
the judges in the previous cases should be held accountable also. he should have been locked up way before this terrible loss of life. a fine should be imposed for the judges and paid to the victims family.
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 10:40am - Posted by: TommyR
This living breathing POS must never see the light of day again!
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 9:41am - Posted by: Strommy
This SCUMBAG should NEVER see another day of freedom the rest of his useless and pathetic life. Complete waste of human flesh.
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 7:22am - Posted by: Hemisphere Dancer
I am so sick of folks getting off with less than what they deserve. This guy should have been charged with vehicular homicide, not manslaughter. I have a coworker who laughs in the face of the law. She has about 2 seizures a year and her license is suspended, but is fighting the state to get it back. In the meantime she still drives and thumbs her nose at the law. You would think that someone with a suspended license would fly under the radar, well not her. She drives 75-80 in 55 mph zones, blows stop signs, etc. Friday night was stopped by the police for running a red light. Did the cop give her a ticket for it? No, it was reduced to "Failure to obey traffic signal", a non-moving violation and someone had to come and drive her home or her car would have been towed. These needless, terrible tragedies could be greatly reduced if law enforcement and our court systems would call it what it is and let the penalty fit the crime. Scofflaws know they'll only get a slap on the wrist while the rest of us has to worry if we'll become a victim of their stupidity.
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 9:03pm - Posted by: grnskpr67
death penalty sure would end the streak of DUIs
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 7:51pm - Posted by: dtalb
I second that, JarHead!!!
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 5:18pm - Posted by: JarHead
DEATH PENALTY!!!!!