Ducasse ordered to serve six years
By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA — A woman convicted in a drunken driving crash that killed another driver was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison, with all but six years suspended and four years probation.
Heather Ducasse wipes her eyes while her father Peter Stone speaks during her sentencing hearing Thursday in Kennebec County Superior Court.
Joe Phelan
A jury three weeks ago found Heather A. Ducasse, 31, of Belgrade, guilty of charges of manslaughter and operating under the influence (death involved) in the July 11, 2008, crash on Smithfield Road in Belgrade.
Gail Hulsey, 57, of Litchfield, died in the two-vehicle, head-on crash. Hulsey’s teen-aged son and Ducasse’s daughter, then 4, were both injured.
At Thursday’s sentencing in Kennebec County Superior Court, Ducasse stood and faced the spectators in the courtroom, speaking directly to Hulsey’s family members.
“I just want to say I’m sorry,” she said. She told them it has been difficult for her to live with this accident. “I can’t imagine what you guys have to live with,” she said.
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18 COMMENTS
Anonymous said...
Glad to hear it is 6 years. These drunk drivers that kill need to get more time.
February 18, 2010 at 11:19 AM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
Bad girl, No more Allen's... Bob of Pumpkin nob
February 18, 2010 at 12:06 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
There is a prosecter in new york charging peopel with murder. Which basically is what it is.
February 18, 2010 at 12:21 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
remorse, AA, antibuse, seems reasonable. Unfortunately it won't bring the loved one back
February 18, 2010 at 12:43 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
Heather A. Ducasse wasn't sorry when she got into her vehicle and drove while intoxicated. Too late now.
February 18, 2010 at 1:17 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
I understand they were different circumstances but, how does a Mass boat driver who killed 2 Mainers do only 2 years? On top of that, no apology, no remorse. Look this woman's mistake killed a person. She's paying for that mistake but, something is wrong when you compare both cases and see 1 person carelessly take out 2 people's lives with no remorse get two thirds less time.
February 18, 2010 at 1:43 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
So Sad for the family.
February 18, 2010 at 2:49 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
Why were the two men who drank, drove and killed someone (Linton and Rouleau) sentenced to 8 years and she was only sentenced to 6? She had her child in the car and could have killed her child as well.
February 18, 2010 at 3:08 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
It would be interesting to know why all the drunk killers get different sentences.
February 18, 2010 at 3:18 PM Report abuse
Anonymous said...
I wish Robert Lapointe got at least 6 years (more for killing 2 people). Guess money talks. And, now he wants to go home early.....booohooohoooo. Loser
February 18, 2010 at 4:05 PM Report abuse
said...
Crocidile tears!
February 18, 2010 at 8:02 PM Report abuse
Edward salunek said...
Thisbroad should have got 20 yrs.
February 18, 2010 at 8:47 PM Report abuse
AKMaineiac said...
Well, different drunks get different sentences because their situations only have one thing in common... they were drunk. Everything else is different, so there are different sentences. I don't think she'll serve nearly that much with good time.
February 18, 2010 at 10:56 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
No sympathy on my end. This is the same lady who claimed during the trial that she wasn't drunk at all. Maybe, the six years will help her with denial.
February 19, 2010 at 7:12 AM Report abuse
Hakim said...
If people blabbing about that boat accident remembers, there was a chance that the victims may have had some fault also with their lights off. What tees me off about Maine justice is to sentence someone and suspend half of it before they check into prison. That is BS for a drunk killer especially.
February 19, 2010 at 8:38 AM Report abuse
usedtoliveinwinslow said...
I told you so. I fugured time served but she got only six. Her victim got life. The boater in Mass. Well what do you expect from two very liberal states. You get what you vote for. Don't complain Just VOTE them out.
February 19, 2010 at 8:53 AM Report abuse
Nelson Donnell said...
Man, it was only a couple of days ago that another person in Maine lost control of their automobile but crashed into a food business after being distracted by their child who was in the car with them. It was only by the grace of fate that he didn't kill someone, but the end results from inattention would have been the same.
February 19, 2010 at 10:34 AM Report abuse
said...
Point well taken Nelson. This woman too said she was merely distracted by her daughter in the back seat. The result would no doubt have been the same alcohol or not.
February 19, 2010 at 6:40 PM Report abuse