DUI Ex-Cop Paroled Early in Child Death

[The Straight Story]

DUI Ex-Cop Paroled Early in Child Death

SACRAMENTO, CA - The ex-Sacramento police officer who killed a child while driving drunk in 2005 served less than half of his five-year sentence before being paroled, benefiting from a little known provision in the law that gives extra "good time" credits for working on an inmate firefighting crew.

Jason Bryan March was paroled May 31 of 2008, just 20 months after he was sentenced by a Sacramento judge to a five-year term for vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run in the death of Michael Ramirez, 13. Ironically, March was released on the three-year anniversary of the crime.

"We heard rumors and I didn't believe it. Then when I called, I was shocked," the boy's mother, Danielle Ramirez, told News10 after recently learning about March's parole. "It's hurtful, it's painful. It's a slap in our face. I feel like we've been victimized all over again."

March, who was off-duty on the afternoon of May 31, 2005, was driving drunk down Bilby Road in Elk Grove after a golf outing when he struck and killed the boy who had just departed his school bus on the way home. March sped off in his white SUV but was captured a few miles away when a witness followed him and called police.

At the time, some felt March enjoyed special treatment because he was booked and immediately released on bond without spending even one night in jail. Within just a few days he was fired by the Sacramento Police Department. He remained free on bail up until the date of his actual sentencing Aug. 3, 2006.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=57415&catid=2

[KansDem]

1. I thought spending a night in jail was mandatory for DUIs...

...even when you don't kill someone. :shrug: