Friday, July 22, 2011

Salas-Gayton Gets 22 Years In Prison For New Year's Day I-94 Freeway Death

Illegal immigrant asks for forgiveness, but received a maximum sentence.

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 22, 2011

Milwaukee - On Friday, Leopoldo R. Salas-Gayton, 41, was sentenced by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Dennis R. Cimpl to 22 years in prison for one felony count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and 9 months to run concurrent for a misdemeanor count of operating vehicle without a valid license and causing death to another person in connection with a New Year's Day fatal accident. Gayton will serve at least 15 years and 7 years of extended supervision on count one. He was ordered to pay restitution totalling $11,075 to one of the surviving victims from another vehicle that Gayton hit.
Before sentencing, Gayton in tears said in Spanish, that he was sorry for the pain he had caused. An interpretor translated Gayton's statement to English.
Gayton, of Milwaukee pleaded no contest on May 15 for driving drunk and causing death, while going the wrong way on I-94 freeway and crashing into Corrie A. Damske, 34, of Wauwatosa and killing her on New Year's Day. Gayton was found intoxicated almost twice the legal limit of .08.
Damske of Wauwatosa died at the scene and her blood alcohol was also above the legal limit, according to an autopsy report from the Milwaukee County Coroner's Office.
U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement officials have a hold on Gayton and is expected to be deported after serving his prison term.

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