Jeanette, that's what you call a hypocrite. See, people like that enjoy free speech, but can't accept the fact that others enjoy the same right.

gq222, in addition to being an apologist you also seem to be an obfuscator. The matter being discussed is not driving under the influence of marijuana [illegal, btw], painkillers [illegal, btw], or wrecklessly at high speed [illegal, btw] or whether or not anyone else has ever done any of the above and gotten away with it.

The matter at hand is how little time this girl will spend in the stony lonesome for what amounts to murder. As citizens who may someday be in the path of this particular driver, everyone has a stake in this. It would be much safer for all involved for a longer period of time if sentencing were lengthier.

End of story.

gq I agree with your last comment, see the difference here is the reckless stupid drivers on Milwaukee street or any street in this city are not drunk or high so they can kill you or I and nothing will happen to them. I feel for both families somewhere along the line someone screwed up with this girl. Sad for all involved.

GQ~
This story isn't about Krystal being high when she hit and killed Everardo. It is about her NOT drinking RESPONSBILY(at 16, how can you??) and hitting and killing a man. You send me a private message calling me a b---- because I voice my opinions, like I replied to you, YOU ARE PATHETIC. Like I have posted PREVIOUSLY, there is such a thing as responsible drinking, which obviously Krystal did not do. But you still want to stick up for her saying we shouldn't judge her? Well where were you when this poor little girl got behind the wheel of her car DRUNK??

and what about the sober jerks in this town who drive 50 mph down east milwaukee, blow the red light, tailgate you, cut you off..etc.? They aren't a hazard? Seems like you hear of far more traffic accidents due to these type of people.

My other comment is what about those of get a DUI from being high weed or something else? They prefer to smoke and drive? Or maybe the prescription painkillers they took that made them unsafe to drive? You can get a DUI from being on a prescription if it makes you unsafe to drive. Don't just assume that an "intoxicated driver" is under the influence of alcohol, people. Too bad so many of you probably want marijuana legalized and complain when the police use resources to make drug busts.

A life was taken by this girl and she should have to pay for it. I come from a long line of alcoholics (i'm not one!) and I see the destruction it causes for all the families and I'm sick of it!! People choose to drink and drive, its not a disease like cancer or MS . It is a chosen lifestyle and it is destructive to all around! And I have never drank and driven, it's wrong and illegal and I am an adult and can follow the law! I don't care if she was 17 she did it and she should pay!!!!

Gq222~
Obviously Krystal didn't responsibly drink now did she? I honestly hope that BOTH families read these blogs. So her family will realize how many lives Krystal screwed up. I hope his family will read these blogs and realize that he wasn't just another "mexican." He was a father, a son, an uncle, a grandfather, and a husband. And also a best friend. I remember when this first happened it made me sick at how many people asked if he was an "illegal mexican." I hope they realize that he is not going to be just another statistic lost to drunk driving. And in response to your comment to us that choose not to drink? That is crap!! I never once said I do not drink, I do drink...RESPONSIBLY!!! If I drink, my husband DOES NOT drink and vise versa. Its the RESPONSBILE thing to do! What you think that you are a stand up person because you don't make your opinions about this story known...please. GQ GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!!

Who are we to "judge" her? Let's see here, the last time I read these blogs, we were not judging her, we are making our opinions known, which once again last time I checked, WE HAD THAT RIGHT!! Who are we to say that we never drank and drove when we were younger, I think the majority of the bloggers on here can honestly say that they did not drink and drive when they were 16!!! I have never once gotten behind the wheel of my car after I have been drinking. This "poor little girl" obviously wasn't such a poor little girl when she was out partying and decided to drink and drive, kill someone, and then got busted not once but TWICE violating her bond. My question is where were her parents through all of this?? To those who say that the prison systems do not offer any kind of rehab for the people with alcohol/drug problems, what the heck is AA and NA for??? What so we not only have to pay for her being there but to also make sure she gets the rehabilitation she needs?? Put her in a cell with only a bed, a toilet, and pictures of the man she murdered for 7 years. Thats rehabilitation!! We should make sure she gets the help she "needs??" First, she needs to want to be helped!! Oh she was so remorseful during her trial. The only reason the "poor little girls" was remorseful was because she knew her partying days were OVER!! When she gets out in 7 years, I would put money on it that we will all see her in the news again and not for anything good! You don't like my comment? Tough. Its about time you people stop living under a rock where everything is always perfect!!!

Who the hell are you people to judge her? The criminal justice system did its thing. Let it go. Its over with. Nothing is going to change what happened. How would you feel if you were the family of her or the victim and read the crap on this blog from everybody? I'm so sick of those of you who hate people who drink just because they aren't like you who decide not to drink. There is such a thing as responsible drinking. Don't judge everyone the same.

"NO" --we should get a private room so we can hash this out. Dink.

*Makes me wonder how many of you angels here have NEVER driven with any blood alcohol concentration*

So a crime is justified and cannot be punished if everyone else is doing it? Wonderful logic.

* Does make me wonder how many of you were so damn perfect when you were kids. *

Again, we're not talking about simple "imperfection", we're discussing vehicular homicide.

*If we are going to incarcerate for life everyone that takes a life, let's start with Drs. and medical people who make mistakes and kill the patients. *

This has nothing to do with the matter at hand. Surgeons are trying their best to save lives. Surgery is not 100 percent guaranteed. Miss Hart was not performing surgery. Drunk driving is not an action people undertake with good intentions.

*Who the hell are you people to judge her? *

Citizens of the community. Those whose lives are at risks when criminals drink & drive. Voters. Those represented by the courts.

*Janesville/Rock County people live in such a sheltered world....*

Yes, because in the "real world", 17 year-old drunks mow down innocents all the time and the enlightened populace shrugs their shoulders.

They should take the vote away from people who have such gaping holes in their logic centers and debating skills.

Another lost Super Bowl drunk has stumbled into the forum.

Just curious as to how you can tell by user names where the poster lives?

Did someone leave the gate open to let you in?

Some real nutjobs in Rock County. Some of you have some real twisted conservative views. Amazing you voted for a liberal president.

Babaloo1 if thats how you feel about high school kids you shouldn't be working with them. Find a new line of work.

Too many of you damn Janesville/Rock County people live in such a sheltered world....

Who the hell are you people to judge her? The criminal justice system did its thing. Let it go. Its over with. Nothing is going to change what happened. How would you feel if you were the family of her or the victim and read the crap on this blog from everybody? I'm so sick of those of you who hate people who drink just because they aren't like you who decide not to drink. There is such a thing as responsible drinking. Don't judge everyone the same.

What makes me the saddest is the amount of civilians here that say "How many of YOU have never driven drunk?"

THe vast majority. Me. My family. My husband.

And make sure you take this bit of news sitting down.... some of us DON'T drink and even more of us would rather crash on a friends couch, perfectly sober, than risk running into you boneheads out there that think drinking and drving is normal.

Those of you that drink and rive are turning this place into a third world country, not latino immigrants.

to whupash25 who said "And to you idiots saying "give her life" --- Homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle is a "D" Felony, which isn't punishable by life. Only an "A" Felony is punishable by life."

MAYBE IT SHOULD BE!

and to gq222 I never said I was perfect. In fact I said I drank and drove in my early 20's which I suspect you are after reading your comments "So many of you seem to have conveniently forgotten that you were a kid too once, and if you haven't forgotten you only remember that you were a perfect kid right? Because the way you see it now all kids these days are rotten. Maybe your just old and senile."

Young or old what does a person who has killed a person due to drunk driving get as punishment? A few years in prison? How many more times are we going to read about a drunk driver killing a person just to have them get 5 or 7 or 10 years in prison. Hardly punishment. Krystal will be out at 25 giving her maybe 50 years to straighten her life out (which I suspect she won't). I can not see how some can be crying tears for her or defending her when she obviously doesn't care. Karma's a b!()$ and I hope some of you are never in the same situation as Mr. Lopez's family.

Tjncj and others who feel this punishment is fair: I am 17 years old. I didn't MEAN to kill your spouse-only scare him because he gave me a F in his class. But, I did kill him with a bullet straight through his heart. Bled out nearly instantly. I'm 17 and can become a productive member of society after 7 years in prison, right? 7 years is just, right?

Whether we want to admit it or not, the vehicles we drive everyday are lethal weapons. They equally as dangerous as a gun, knife, etc.., atleast if I shoot someone, only one person is victimized. If I hit someone in a car, there is the potential to victimize that entire vehicle (plus my own!!)

I predict she won't serve all 7 years...on her own doing!

If we are going to incarcerate for life everyone that takes a life, let's start with Drs. and medical people who make mistakes and kill the patients. Or company executives who mismanage the company cutting safety issues and cause the death of people due to unsafe products or working conditions. After all, these people were also warned, or should, have known about the dangers of the decisions they were making and they didn't intentionally mean to kill anyone.

I work with 400 high school kids everyday.

I agree with whupash and tjncj and naiou. Does make me wonder how many of you were so damn perfect when you were kids. So many of you seem to have conveniently forgotten that you were a kid too once, and if you haven't forgotten you only remember that you were a perfect kid right? Because the way you see it now all kids these days are rotten. Maybe your just old and senile.

Good comments ihavealife and bn1967. I too lost a nephew to a drunk driver and miss him dearly. These were all "choices" that she freely made-even after the accident. HS kids now a days don't ever think they will have to be responsible for anything. I hear comments all the time that if you aren't 18 you won't be held liable for anything so why worry. They expect a slap on the hand and thats it. They have been taught for years about drinking and driving/drugs at school and that hasn't done any good. The majority of the kids have never been taught to "own" up to their mistakes-they think its somebody else's fault, whether it be Mom, Dad, Teacher, Principal, Boss. How many times do you see/hear of a kid that drinks at a party and gets a sports code violation, that the parents aren't in the office the next day, arguing that it couldn't have been their kid, whomever reported it was lying, it isn't fair that only their kid was caught, etc., etc, on and on... Also, why aren't the providers of the alcohol being charged in these cases too. Obviously somebody provided the liquor for these underage kids.

What mistake did Mr. Lopez make? Driving that night? His life is gone. His family is left without him for the rest of their lives. My Mom and Dad are both gone now (due to cancer) and although it's been 25 and 9 years that they've been gone I miss them each day. It's not fair that she will be "inconvienced" for 7 years in jail. She will be out at 24 or 25; young enough to enjoy the rest of her life. I'm not saying the death penalty but LIFE IN PRISON for killing someone (regardless of the method) should be the standard punishment. Maybe if that was pounded in people's heads they would think a bit more about drinking and driving. Maybe she should have to be reminded of what she did by having pictures of Mr. Lopez and his family posted on her walls. Maybe pictures of Mr. Lopez after the accident (as morbid as that may be) staring her in the face every day for 7 years will teach her a lesson. Having known someone in prison I know they don't have it all that rough. The only thing that stinks is not being able to leave and being with friends and family. Make prison what it should be...a punishment. Locked in a cell 24/7 with a toilet and bed. Slip their food though a slot in the door and let them rot with nothing better to do than think of their mistakes. As a mother of a young child I've already talked to her about the drinking and driving and how WRONG it is. I set a good example for her and DO NOT drink (when she is with me) nor drink or drive (ever). My parents were not drinkers and they never talked to me about things. I drank and drove in my early 20's and I thank goodness I NEVER hurt or killed someone. I will not accept drinking and driving as a "mistake" and if my daughter chooses to do that after all my preaching and teaching and she does what Miss Hart did than I would still stand behind what I said earlier; LIFE IN PRISON.

In response to the earlier comment about young people making mistakes - when they're big enough mistakes, they usually learn from them, not go out and continue to drink in this girls case. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'll even admit that I've had an OWI. I'm not proud of it but I was young and stupid and I learned from my mistake! For about three or four years after that I wouldn't get behind the wheel after even just one drink. I'm not saying I've never got behind the wheel again after driking but only after a drink with dinner and only if I know my driving wouldn't be impared. I'll probably get slack for this but i feel a little sorry for her, not because she made a mistake and killed someone but that she continued making them afterwards due to, from what I can see, parents that really don't care to be parents. She obviously has parents who didn't know how to properly raise a child. If my child had killed someone in a drunk driving accident (or any other way for that matter) I certainly would not let them out of my house or sight ever again! The fact that she was allowed to be in an environment with drugs and alcohol shows just how little parenting her parents do. Instead of her going out and continuing to party maybe she should've gone with her parents to family counseling. The other earlier comment about how she said that she didn't mean to kill him just shows how immature she really is. And that she doesn't truly understand the severity of her crime. But then again she is young and probably very immature for her age due to her parents lack of parenting. I hope she gets the help that she needs in there because there are really only two outcomes to this situation - either she learns from her mistake and becomes a contributing member to society or she gets out in 7 years and continues right where she left off and with a maturity level far below that of her peers. As for the victims family - I don't want them to think I'm standing up for this girl. My heart goes out to them. I just think this whole situation could've been avoided if her parents had been just that - parents.

WOW she got 3 more years than the guy who killed the UW professer while driving drunk. I agree with cardtrader in that she should have gotten as many years as Mr Lopez was expected to live. He doesn't have a life, why should she?

No momof5 my nieces, nephews and children don't do this. I am trying to have a little empathy here. I am trying to show the person who said to throw away the key that seven years is a fair sentence. If she gets out and isn't straightened out she can go back for six more. She committed a crime and deserves prison time and 7 years seems fair to me. This is a person who can pay her debt to society and get out at 25 and live a productive life. I will tell you that dozens of kids in this county are doing the same thing she did this weekend and they all have the same chance of repeating this tragedy.

tjncj: If you have nieces, nephews, or children who are underage and party AND get behind the wheel of a vehicle....I'm speechless. You condone that? Just because my niece goes out and drinks and drives home means I shouldn't be outraged that this IDIOT killed someone and only got 7 years for it? Which, fyi, my niece does not drink and/or drive. She is SMARTER than that and realizes she has her whole life ahead of her. Everyone makes mistakes. Absolutely. However, she was out on bond and was still partaking in the SAME behaviors that got her in trouble to begin with!

Let's turn this a little... She is out on bond, and while driving home from yet another drinking binge, kills Jane--the niece of "tjncj." Would you, tjncj, be on here saying that 7 years is sufficient? And, fyi, I never drank while in high school--I drank underage ONE time and I was 20. My younger siblings: once. That's just one of the many problems our society is faced with today. It's like it's a right of passage. Because older generations did it, it's ok for younger ones to do it.

If alcoholism is a disease, it would seem obvious that the apple didn't fall far from the tree in the Hart family. I hope they also get the help they need while their "apple" is incarcerated.

I won't shed any tears for her...she definitely got the better end of this deal...a kid or not. My kid or not...SHE KILLED SOMEONE!

I'm sorry but I am completely torn on this issue. On one side, I think she got enough time to face reality and do A LOT of growing up, but on the other side, I don't think she got enough time. Her chances of serving the whole 7 years? VERY SLIM!! I know quite a few people that were sentenced to prison for about 8 years, less then 3 1/2 years later, they were released. They have programs in prison that if you complete, they will take off time from your sentence. And you can do more than one program so you have a really good chance of getting A LOT of time off of your sentence. If that was my dad she murdered, I would hope she would rot in hell. I would be furious that she only received 7 years. Honestly, she will be out before you know it and she can move on with her life. She will have a chance to get married, have children, have a career. Where is the man she murdered? Oh yes, dead. Never again will his family be able to see his face, never again will his children be able to call him up because they had a bad day or got an awesome job and they can't wait to tell their dad. I hope that however long she ends up serving makes her grow up. And if she ends up drinking and driving again, I hope they lock her up and THROW away that key!! She will deserve it!!

How many of you have son's, daughters, niece's and nephews this age? The vast majority of high school and college students party and a lot of them get behind the wheel. Put one of these 17-22 year old's you actually know in this girls position. What would be a fair sentence for them? I think 7 years is more than adequate. Throw away the key? Don't be ridiculous.

Only seven years, this is why we need to change our laws to truth in sentenceing, I believe someone should get a mininum of live expectency of the deceased, meaning if avg life is 74 years old then she should have gotten 20 years for the time she took away from this man. Only my opinion

walkinothershoes...While this did not directly affect me,somethings are unforgiveable.

p.s. The next time I MURDER someone I will hold off passing judgement.

na_iou, well said. I know when I was her age I didn't have a fraction of the insight and empathy I have today, and I was a pretty good kid. This is a sentence that represents about 40% of her life so far, and when she gets out she'll have spent almost a third of her life in prison. Given that we understand young people make mistakes, we cannot treat her the same as someone with greater maturity and experience.
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That said, this is not an unusual sentence for the charges. Just because you kill someone doesn't mean it is treated the same as first degree murder. As popular as it seems to be on this website, the criminal justice system does not operate on the principle of retribution.

I hope when she gets out she is not the same girl whe is now. I hope she is scared to death, and I hope everyday in prison brings a new horrifying experience. Maybe when she is done rotting she can go to schools and explain to kids that just because you arent 18 doesnt mean you cant go to jail for doing something stupid. Im sure she never thought she would end up in jail even though she is a MURDERER, heck throw her scum bag parents in there with her, maybe then parents will understand that they are RESPONSIBLE for what their children do. Hey Krystal??? Was the partying worth it? See you in 7 years, but the person you KILLED will never see their family again.

Oh and in case someone asks, no I have never had a drunk driving ticket and I do not drink and drive.

Bless you NA-iuo, for being decent. I wonder why I read these blogs sometimes. All of you act as though you are perfect, have never made a mistake and act as judge and jury for things you know nothing about. I am also no bleeding heart because I HAVE lost a loved one to a drunk driver. They were punished and I forgave them. Forgive, grace, does anyone understand these words? I live by the old verse that says "judge not, lest ye be judged"

ppl, i am not a bleeding heart. i just want to remind everyone that she is a child. she doesnt even have the maturation to get what has happened. proven by her actions. i know this little girl,,and thats what she is, a little girl. fact, she has been going to 12 step meetings while incarcerated. fact, she is scared to death. fact, using alcohol and other drugs stifles growth and maturity. i am not excusing her actions one iota. i am praying for her. the sad thing is this, the person she is now may no longer exist when she gets out of prison. that will either prove to be a good thing,or a really bad thing. my heart goes out to her and everyone involved.

if someone i loved were killed in a drunk driving accident I would hope they were serve a lot longer than 7 yrs.. either way it doesnt make it right! NOT TO MENTION! .. she was drinking AFTER she killed this poor man! How could you honestly go out underage drinking again after you killed someone.. and she got caught for it.. justice system sucks! specially walworth co!

well said VILLA

That's it?!?! Someone lost their life and she gets 7 years. Something has to be done. She should be in prison for a lot longer!!!!

I met someone that was in jail with her. I know you fellow bloggers, and everyone else sifting through here, will have a fun day with the comment I was told... I throw it out there because I was too stunned to react at the time of what a stupid comment this was... "she didn't choose to kill him."

It took until this person left for me to realize what she said. She's lucky I was extremely tired!

What bugged me the most about some of the comments she made and the way she was quoted... it seemed she didn't really care if someone was dead. All she was concerned about was "getting back to her NORMAL life" which wasn't normal in the first place. Yeah, I bet she's remorseful now... she'll be doing hard time and regrets being stupid enough to get caught.

Honestly, I'm sure she figured Mom & Dad could "make it all go away"... Didn't happen and now she'll be growing up in a hurry, when she hears those bars clank behind her. Maybe she'll "get it" some day... but I really feel her parents were a big part of her issues....

The homicide and bail jumping sentences are consecutive. The 9 month sentence for obstructing is concurrent.

the problem with our system is that it is not very good at rehabing anybody for any offense they commited. incaracerated drunks when let out tend to drink again. offenders reoffend. i knew a guy that was on huber for dwi and had like five more years to go. he stayed clean and sober while he was on huber while i knew him, yet when i asked him what the first thing he was going to do when he was off huber and free to do whatever, he said and i quote, "go to a bar." i hope he gets a ride.

she will serve 6 yrs on the homicide sentence and will be eligible for earned release on the bail jumping sentence which is consecutive to the homicide. The time served applies in the event she were to violate her conditions of extended supervision and gets sent back to prison. In that case that time served would be applied to any additional time in prison she would be sentenced.

She will be incarcerated for the full seven years, less any time already served, and that includes ANY time served during, before and after court appearances, etc. When she is realeased after the 7 years, she will do 6 years extended supervision, meaning probation where she will be required to follow certain rules/programming/treatment by the DOC, most likely AODA, group therapy, etc. Her rules will be strict, but hopefully by then she'll have grown up a little and be able to adjust back to society as an adult.

ihavealife...Wisconsin does have truth of sentencing. Therefore, she will have to serve all 7 years of the sentence.

Boo hoo for her. It’s too bad the judge couldn’t hear how she spoke about her victim while she was still in school. Not so cocky now I bet. She needs to stay incarcerated the entire time.

If you read ccap she had the original charges were dismissed prior to the felony bail jumping charge so those charges should not have been handed down she was recharged after she was arrested for drinking. A little confusing and would actually be a case for appeal.

Mikki....I agree. But, atleast she got SOMETHING. Hopefully this case will serve as a precedent when it comes to sentencing other morons like this!

Another young kid with a problem with addiction to alcohol. I hope the get her the help she needs and not just warehouse her with people who can teach her worse. I agree with the punishment I just pray it helps her to change.

I think this is a good sentance. Hopefully this seven years will help her cope with her problems. Seven years is a long time. Especially for someone so young and just at the time where kids, marriage and careers are to be had. I am sure that she feels remorse for what she did and will now have to pay the consequences for her actions. The probation ontop of the sentance is good too, to make sure she doesn't slip up once back out on the street. It's a sad day for both families.

7 Years is a pretty fair sentence in my opinion.

That's IT?
Wow...so she can go out and kill someone...not care, continue to party and drink.
I LOVE our justice system.