Back in April 2008, I wrote a commentary called “Sad Tragic Dumb” which was about John Patrick Carey who worked for U.S. Senator Max Baucus on his campaign and senate staff. Carey was driving a vehicle intoxicated and had an accident that killed his passenger – a young man named Matt Wilder. Wilder was 28 years old.
According to a story in the Billings Gazette:
Prosecutors said Carey had a blood-alcohol level of 0.189 percent, more than twice the state legal limit. Carey had two prior DUI convictions, and in another case he was charged with reckless driving when he refused to provide officers with a breath sample.
It seems we hear this same story a lot in Montana.
In December 2008, Carey was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 15 years at Montana State Prison, with five years suspended.
But on Thursday, all of that was basically thrown out. He spent about two years incarcerated. The other eight years was suspended. He is now on probation. The Deputy County Attorney was against it. The family of Matt Wilder was against it. But the Montana District Court Judge, Ingrid Gustafson, was for it so Carey is free.
The Billings Gazette reported:
“I’m not sure I can measure (the value of) a person’s life by the number of years we can put someone else in prison,” the judge said.
I can. The families of those who have had a loved one taken from them by a drunk driver probably can too, Judge Gustafson.
Carey “successfully completed at least two state substance abuse treatment programs and the state boot camp program”
Wow. What else did he have to do in prison?
This was Carey’s third DUI conviction. This time he killed someone.
The Montana Legislature should use this case as an example of the weak laws about DUIs and do something about it.
Hopefully the folks in Yellowstone County will take notice of Judge Gustafson’s weakness on this issue and vote her out of office. She was elected in 2006 for a six-year term.
It was a very dumb decision on the Judge’s part. It was certainly not justice.
The Western Word 
You’re an armchair quarterback, who doesn’t seem to recognize his own ignorance. If you think one bench decision measures the totality of someone’s worth, then you too should be judged and your livelihood at risk each time you make a decision. Judge Ingrid Gustafson is one of the hardest working District Court judges in Billings. She’s ethical and fair-minded. She started a felony drug court because there’s an incredible amount of data that shows drug offenders do better with treatment as opposed to punitive sanctioning. She’s a tireless advocate for drug courts, she’s worked extremely hard to development programs for juvenile justice as well as for family matters.
Perhaps you should consider someone’s entire performance before you recommend that they lose their jobs? Your blog is irresponsible.
I work in District Court, and I’ve seen first hand how hard this judge works.
Shelley:
Thanks for your comments.
Since you work in the district court, you might not see it like those of us on the outside do. Carey received two years in prison for a third DUI, and he murdered a young man with his actions. Incredible.
Although you consider this blog “irresponsible” it’s my opinion. I would not vote for Judge Gustafson.
Thanks for visiting.
-Jack
There’s not enough information about the case presented here to make a decision, just an emotional appeal.