A judge sentenced a Morton man to three-and-a-half years in state prison Monday for causing an automobile accident that injured 12 people, including himself, while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Jesse A. Horn, 24, maintained a calm expression on his face as Associate Judge Lisa Wilson announced his sentence, ignoring the earlier plea by Horn’s attorney to sentence him to a much shorter term in jail, supplemented by several mandatory treatment programs. Horn’s family was more visibly distraught as they heard the news. Some family members were shedding tears as the attorneys for both sides silently went about the mundane task of filling out paperwork.
Wilson was unmoved by this plea, citing several failed attempts at treatment in Horn’s past and the severity of the damage to the 11 victims of the crash.
“Lesser punishments have been ineffective in deterring the defendant’s behavior,” Wilson said. “A sentence of probation would deprecate the seriousness of the offense.”
Horn will have to serve one year of probation after getting out of prison and pay a $1,250 fine plus court costs. He will receive credit for the 103 days he has already served in jail.
A restitution hearing — in which a court will decide how much money Horn must pay to the victims for their hospital bills, pain and suffering — is scheduled for Sept. 20.
“Mr. Horn, you are very fortunate there was not a fatality,” Wilson said, addressing Horn. “There are consequences for every decision made.”
Horn had pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence, a crime for which the maximum sentence is 12 years. However, the prosecution had only requested a five-year prison term.
Horn was supposed to be working at the Morton Pumpkin Festival on Sept. 16, 2009, to work off community service hours he owed stemming from a previous incident involving alcohol. According to his attorney, Horn was given permission to use a silver Ford F-150 truck that had been loaned to the festival by a dealer.
Drunk and having already had his license revoked for drunk driving, Horn drove and picked up two friends to give them a ride back to the festival. On the way back, as previously reported, Horn was driving fast and passed several cars in a no-passing area. While trying to return to his proper lane he hit a Jeep and a Toyota truck at high speed. Both vehicles had at least one child inside.
According to earlier reports, court records said Horn had a blood alcohol content of .327 when tested after the crash. He also had cannabis in his system.
