An illegal alien from Guatemala who killed a Tennessee man while drunk driving has been sentenced to prison for causing the man’s death.
Israel Martin-Alonzo, who was 18 at the time and was driving drunk, struck and killed Hixson man Donald Rackley on July 30, 2018. He was sentenced Tuesday to only two years in prison after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain lane, and DUI.
Donald Rackley was taking a walk to clear his head when he was struck and killed. A stranger later found his body and called the police.
Martin-Alonzo fled the scene but was captured by police a few days later. He was out on bond for another crime when he killed Donald Rackley, which prosecutors argued was a reason for a lengthier prison sentence.
Martin-Alonzo will be deported after serving his sentence.
Despite the leniency, Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson slammed Martin-Alonzo for his immigration status.
“Clearly, this is the worst-case scenario: An illegal immigrant coming to the country and committing a crime that results in the death of what is indisputably a pillar to this community,” she said. He’s a father to two sons, a Scout leader, a music minister in his church. But for you being here illegally, he would still be with us here today.”
Donald Rackley’s widow, Nancy Rackley, was not satisfied with the punishment.
“I just believe frankly that the charges in this plea situation are inadequate, flaccid, and very frustrating from my point of view,” she told Patterson and the rest of the court.
Donald Rackley’s obituary tells a story of a lifetime of interesting accomplishments.
“He was a loving husband, father and son,” the obituary says. “He was an Eagle Scout, a Scout leader, and a member of Mensa, International Brotherhood of Magicians, IBM Local Ring 112, Storytellers Guild, and Abba’s House. He was active in church in music and theater ministry. He had careers as a computer operator at Buster Brown for 18 years, a homeschooling father of 18 years, and most recently, entertainer, motivational speaker, magician, and seasonal Santa Claus.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X/Twitter.
So a citizen who was just out for a walk gets hit by a drunk driver who is here illegally and fled the scene, but we slap the criminal’s hand and say ‘bad boy’??? Was the man who was a good person, a citizen, a family man, who did NOTHING wrong dead as soon as he was hit or did he lie there in agony while this creep took off and did God knows what? And who says he will be deported??? Oopsie, we forgot!
Only two years of punishment for vehicular homicide? Drinking while driving and illegally being in the country. How sad is that?
Nashville Deplorable made an interesting comparison that should make a person think hard about the “state” of our State.
Where is the vehicular homicide charge? I did not see it listed in the article. This sentence is an insult to humanity. Sure he will be deported in 2 years….. and back across the border two weeks after that!
It seems every year that DUI penalties get tougher and tougher for everyone except illegals. Two years for aggravated vehicular homicide? This is why lynch mobs are still needed.
There’s another story out today about a gang of organized illegals that are on a six state crime spree with credit card skimmers stealing almost a half a million. They were arrested Tennessee in April and let go.
He must have been sentenced by a #$%2^* democrat. Two years, and the a$$ hole is our country illegally.
Sign him up for free trans surgery. Put him on food stamps.
Trump supporters got more time in jail for parading through a government building!