By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The (Vancouver) Columbian reports the fatal single-vehicle crash into a power pole in Toledo in November has led to a 20-year sentence for the driver, Jonathon K. Reno, 42, of Vancouver, Wash.
News reporter Paris Achen writes the lengthy term imposed yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court was the result of stiffer sentencing guidelines for vehicular homicide enacted in 2012 and Reno’s extensive history; which included three DUIs and convictions for reckless driving as well as attempted vehicular assault in 2006.
Troopers said Reno was intoxicated and traveling at a high rate of speed when his Honda Accord struck a guard rail and utility pole at Jackson Highway near Ray Road the evening of Nov. 10. His passenger Adam W. Newstrom, 28, of Vancouver, Wash. was killed.
Read more here
Melinda, who should be ashamed? The killer or the press? Really, three prior DUI’s? Mistakes? Those are not mistakes, those are purposeful acts. Everyone knows the potential results for such reckless behavior, especially with multiple offenses.
We, the public, deserve to know who the bad actors out there are. I am sorry for the families involved, but put the blame where it belongs.
Melinda Reno I know you and u know me your husband killed my step father
Jonathon is my nephew and he is not a “Bad” person, he’s just made some bad choices. And the fact of the matter is, is that they both made a bad choice that night that ended with deadly consequences for Adam and 20 yrs in prison for Jonathon knowing he killed his friend. It is a no win situation and my prayers and heart goes out to Adams family and my own. I hope this all was not in vain and that at least one person learns from this tragic accident.
Melinda, Very sorry for your loss. It probably is not your fault Mr. Reno is going to spend most of the next 20 years in prison. However, public records are just that, public. The press actually has a duty to inform and a right to do so whether or not you or I like it.
If someone in my family drinks and drives, kills someone and then ends up in prison I don’t see where I would have any censorship rights over the news stories. Where on earth did you get the idea you have such a right? Maybe the family of Adam Newstrom has some right to ASK Sharyn and others to be considerate in writing about the incident and resulting prison term, but you do not.
Count me as one of those who is very glad this dangerous man is out of circulation.
What does not knowing you have anything to do with the facts of the crime and subsequent sentencing or the fact that you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to what the media can and can’t do? Telling us all to shut the hell up will be just about as effective as saying the media needs to ask for your permission to print a story about your family member who killed someone.
“Melinda Reno says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 4:48 am
@ Sara. How would you feel if someone in your family drinks and drives and kills someone and gets a sentence and the story goes into the paper without your permission?? Would it make you mad????”
No Melinda. What would make me mad is my relative decided to drive drunk and killed someone. That’s what would make me mad. The reporting of it in the newspaper is par for the course when you break the law.
@Crazee, YOU DON’T KNOW ME OR MR. RENO!!! @ MIKE, I DON’T HAVE TO TURN MY CAPS OFF!!! ALL OF YOU DON’T KNOW ME SO SHUT THE HELL UP!!!
Melinda, your comment is absurd.
If your family member is responsible for killing someone, the press has every right (and reason) to report on it.
Also, it was his choices that landed himself (and consequently his family) in this situation, not Decker’s.
Furthermore, 99 percent of people probably would not have realized it was your dad if you hadn’t of identified yourself.
@Melinda…I’m not sure where you get your information, but the media doesn’t have to have anybody’s permission to report news stories. Including ones that involve your family. The problem is not in the reporting, but in the fact that your family member killed someone while driving drunk. Apparently he didn’t learn from the prior DUI’s he received. At least he’s off the roads now. For that we can all be thankful.
Reno,
You should review the Bill of Rights.
Freedom of the press. Permission not needed, neither is Vehiclular Manslaughter or Capslock.
Should the media have asked Bin Laden’s family if it was okay to report on 9/11?
Im pretty sure Johnny didn’t ask Adam if its ok to kill him while driving drunk. This is one skeleton that can’t be hidden in a closet Ms. RENO. Dont hate Ms Decker on this one.
@ Sara. How would you feel if someone in your family drinks and drives and kills someone and gets a sentence and the story goes into the paper without your permission?? Would it make you mad????
YES THEY DO!!!!!!
Miss Reno,
Turn off your caps. You don’t have to yell.
Reporters don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to run news stories. It’s called freedom of the press.
Advice Melinda, you may wanna just let this lay cause it appears you are even more dumb than your old man….and look what happened to him. Mess around too much and the big dogs will chew you up. Just sayin.
I’m sorry for the family of those evolved but this is all technically public records, so I really do not believe they would have to ask for permission.
I’m sooooo PISSED at the reporters who put the articles in the paper and on the website. Sharyn L. Decker, YOU OTTA BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR NOT ASKING ANY FAMILY MEMBERS IF IT’S OK TO TYPE UP THESE REPORTS. NEXT TIME A THING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO ASK A FAMILY MEMBER IF IT’S OK TO PUT IN REPORTS!!! DON’T YOU HAVE ANY RESPECTS FOR US FAMILIES????!!!!
Its just to bad the “choices” take so long for the consequences to pay out..
Our choices have consequences. One man is dead and one is headed to prison for 20 years. No winners in this case.