Judge Marilyn Castle ruled today that Sean Holloway, 27, must serve 85 percent of a four-year sentence for a 2007 vehicular homicide that took the life of Shawn Lancon, 22.
Defense attorney Allison Prejean said following this morning’s hearing that she was unsure if a writ or appeal would be filed to reconsider the sentencing.
Assistant District Attorney Roger Hamilton asked Castle to review the May sentencing of Holloway after learning he was scheduled for release from prison in about three weeks.
Holloway served about eight months of the four-year sentence handed down by Castle.
Hamilton argued that Holloway pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, which qualifies as a crime of violence and as such the offender must serve 85 percent of his sentence. Castle agreed.
Judge Marilyn Castle ruled today that Sean Holloway, 27, must serve 85 percent of a four-year sentence for a 2007 vehicular homicide that took the life of Shawn Lancon, 22.
Defense attorney Allison Prejean said following this morning’s hearing that she was unsure if a writ or appeal would be filed to reconsider the sentencing.
Assistant District Attorney Roger Hamilton asked Castle to review the May sentencing of Holloway after learning he was scheduled for release from prison in about three weeks.
Holloway served about eight months of the four-year sentence handed down by Castle.
Hamilton argued that Holloway pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, which qualifies as a crime of violence and as such the offender must serve 85 percent of his sentence.
Castle agreed.
“Good Time” law: Convicted criminals can be released early out of jail for being “good”
Convicted criminals can get out of jail early for being “good” and, as News 10 learned this past week, that includes convicted murderers. The nickname for this law is the “Good Time” law.
Phillip Deselle, a self-confessed child killer, was granted early release after only serving 24-years of his 50-year sentence. Since his release, there have been a lot of questions surrounding Louisiana’s “Good Time” law that allowed this release.
One local mother is personally being affected by the law after the death of her son.
Karen Stelly, the victim’s mother, says, “I don’t feel the little guy that killed my son should get good time, I mean my son can’t get good time. He’s in the ground.”
In 2007, Sean Holloway was behind the wheel of his truck drunk and also on drugs when he turned in front of a car. The crash killed Stelly’s son, 22-year-old Shawn Lancon, who was riding in the truck with Holloway. Holloway pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in May and was sentences to serve four years in jail. Stelly said it now seems Holloway may be released in February due to the “Good Time” law.
“They’re letting him out six months after he’s been in there and he gets to come out. I don’t think that’s fair at all,” said Stelly.
St. Martin Assistant District Attorney, Chester Cedars, is in agreement.
“This whole system of good time, this whole system of parole eligibility after serving only a portion of your sentence creates and establishes a great deal of uncertainty. I believe and submit to you the unfairness in the context of sentencing,” said Cedars.
Cedars said this law means the Department of Corrections will give an inmate credit for time served after exhibiting good behavior and participating in various programs.
This results in a reduced sentence.
“The statute provides under certain circumstances a person may get three days credit off of his sentence for every 17 days in custody. That is “Good Time”,” said Cedars.
Holloway’s hearing is scheduled for 8:30 Thursday morning.
