A MTSU student received a sentence that includes time in jail and speaking at local schools as the result of a drunk driving accident that killed another student last year.
Nineteen-year-old Richard Rico's sentence includes six months in jail and six months of weekends in jail, undergo drug and alcohol assessments and repay for the funeral expenses and lost wages.
Rico must also finish his college degree, speak four times at every public and private middle school and high school in the county and speak at every freshmen orientation for the next eight years.
He will talk to students about how the death of Andrea August, 21, has affected his life. His speeches are to influence students not to drink and drive.
The accident occurred on Halls Hill Pike on April 11, 2003. Andrea August, Rico's passenger, was the only one killed while other passengers suffered minor injuries. Rico had a blood alcohol content of .13.
The sentence Rico received will not be the norm. Rico's situation was unique due to his history. He had no prior arrest and showed remorse about what had happen.
Similar offenses would have different punishments depending on the person's background, Andrea's father, Harold August said.
"We can find a way for him to speak at either orientation or Welcome Week, but we also have Alcohol Awareness Week," Customs Director Gina Poff said.
August plans to attend as many speeches as possible with Rico. He wants to show students how the accident not only affected Rico's life but how it affected her family.
Rico or the court system has not tried to contact the Customs Office, Poff said.
Andrea's family had input in Rico's sentence. They did not want him to waste away in jail. They wanted him to help others, August said.
"We strongly felt that in this case a long sentence in jail would do nothing to prevent this tragedy from reoccurring," August said.
Circuit Court Judge Don Ash could have given Rico a sentence of nine months to eight years in jail. Many people believe Ash just gave Rico a slap on the wrist, but Rico will be serving this sentence for the full eight years, August said.
"I fully support the plan that Judge Ash crafted," August said.
If Rico's story influences just one student not to drink and drive, then it could save another family from experiencing this tragedy, August said.
Rico could not be reached for comment.
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