Getting off nearly scot-free; it's how some victims' families feel after plea deals are struck with those responsible for killing their loved ones getting probation instead of jail time.
It happened Wednesday in Scott County court. 18-year old Cody Lantau was sentenced to five years supervised probation for a deadly accident last December. Police say Lantau lost control of his SUV at a bonfire, and hit 17-year old William Schwener, killing him.
Lantau will have to pay $150,000 restitution to Schwener's family, but won't have to serve a day in jail.
That is just one of many cases in the QCA where those responsible for a death walked free.
In 2010 in Davenport, then 19-year old Kelsey Alexander lost control of her car, killing her 23-year old sister. She pled guilty to serious injury while operating a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated. She got two days in jail, two years probation and was ordered to pay $1200 in fines, but the maximum sentence for vehicular homicide by intoxication is 25 years.
Then in 2011, then 19-year old Justin Sparks was driving with two friends when he ran into a ditch and hit a tree, killing both friends.
He pled guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication and got 60 days in jail and five years supervised probation.
Last December, then 18-year old Cody Lantau killed his friend William Schwener in an accident.
The maximum sentence for him would've also been 25 years, but he got five years probation and fines. For the families of these victims, that's often not enough.
"It's not right, I don't want him running the streets," Schwener's grandmother Mary Schwener says, "I don't want him just having a life that he can laugh and do anything he wants because I can't even laugh."
For William Schwener's family, justice hasn't been served. Many others families may feel the same.
A county attorney estimates only about 30 to 40 percent of vehicular homicide cases like Schwener's go to trial, and the majority of crimes are pled out.
Judge Gary McKenrick says plea bargaining is a necessary part of the justice system.
"If we were to do 5000 jury trials every year, the cost to society would be tremendous," McKenrick says.
Officials say there are about 25 to 30 new felony cases in Scott County each week.
Cases go to trial when they have to, but many factors in a case are considered to see if it doesn't.
"The goal ultimately is justice not only for the defendant but for the public, and the system as a whole," McKenrick says.
Factors like the defendant's relationship to the victim, any guilt or remorse they have, criminal history, and what punishment will send a message not only to the defendant but the public to try and make sure the crime doesn't happen again.
"Other than people that are sentenced to life in prison without parole, everyone at some point is going to be in society again," McKenrick says, "What are the best options available for the defendant to change their behavior?"
A plea deal tries to line up all those factors and consider similar cases in the past to get the right punishment, which is still not enough for some victims' families.
"I was raised if you play, you pay, I was raised if you break the law you pay, I was raised if you kill you pay," Schwener's aunt, Wendy Hildebrant says, "I don't understand why he's not getting jail time."
Assistant Scott County Attorney Jerry Feuerbach tells us his office will consult with victims' families about pleas. They have the option to file civil suits if they feel justice hasn't been served. He says most often do so.
