In baseball, it’s three strikes. In school, it’s failing classes. In marketing, it’s not meeting your sales quotas. All of these things are deliberately avoided because they result in negative consequences for the individual involved. But in the world of Cara Erickson, a 22-year-old University of Wisconsin student, bad behavior has brought her compassion and understanding from a judge, rather than a much deserved prison sentence.
Aug. 27, 2000, Cara Erickson hit and killed 17-year-old Jason Skaaning. Erickson was convicted of drunken driving homicide and sentenced to nine months in jail, 15 years of probation and one week in jail around Christmas for the period of her probationary sentence. Erickson and her family appeared elated after the sentence was handed down because, after all, she killed a boy and got off easy.
Part of Erickson’s probation stipulates she cannot drink or do any drugs whatsoever, a logical and seemingly simple demand to follow, considering that even the thought of alcohol would make any normal person with an ounce of remorse cringe after a drunken driving homicide. However, Erickson apparently has no remorse for what she did because since she was sentenced, she has been caught violating her probation not once, not twice, but three times!
She’s been caught once for smoking marijuana and twice for drinking alcohol. The most recent violation occurred after police pulled a car over Feb. 25 for speeding. Erickson and her friends were in the car, drunk after a night of partying at a local bar. Imagine the audacity it must take for someone to kill another human being driving drunk and then to even think about looking at a bottle of alcohol ever again, much less being out partying before getting into a car, drunk.
However, the most outrageous part of this whole story is the utter incompetence of Judge Thomas Bround, who is not punishing Erickson sufficiently for her three violations. Last week, during the sentencing phase of court hearings, Judge Bround said Erickson is a “model probationer.” He attempted to back up his claim by stating, “As a student at UW-Madison, she has earned good grades …” Bround continued his complimentary antics of saying he was impressed she “worked 20 to 30 hours a week.” Finally, Judge Bround said, “She is extremely remorseful.”
A model probationer? She’s violated it three times! And then the judge says she’s remorseful. Excuse me, but if she were even the least bit remorseful, she would start going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings instead of partying it up with her friends all the time.
I had the chance to speak with Elysia Skaaning and Pam Skaaning on my radio show last week, the sister and mother of Jason Skaaning. The death of Jason still deeply affects each and every waking moment of their lives. Elysia and Pam both expressed to me their complete disgust with this judge’s decision. Everyone should share in the Skaaning family’s anger and outrage because one of your loved ones could be the next to die if this walking time bomb, Cara Erickson, detonates again.
Judge Bround’s discretion on this case illustrates his incredible incompetence in protecting the safety of the people of Dane County. He has shirked his judiciary responsibility and will have blood on his hands if Erickson kills another human being. How many more people have to die for a killer to be brought to justice?
Last week, the listeners of my radio show flooded Judge Bround’s office with phone calls and e-mails after I gave his contact information out on the air. The Skaaning family told me they were greatly appreciative of that sign of support from the community. I’m urging you to call or e-mail Judge Bround as well and express your outrage over his ridiculous decision (608-266-9423 or [email protected]).
Even if nothing can be done legally in this case, at least we can send Judge Bround a message that his decision was completely out of line and he can’t let it happen again. A family is in mourning right now. I hope you’ll show your support for them. After all, it’s the right thing to do.
Casey Hoff ([email protected]) is a UW student and the host of “New Ground with Casey Hoff,” live Monday through Friday, 9-11 a.m., on Talk Radio 1670 WTDY.
