Youth gets 7 years for fatal wreck

Seth Callentine, 19, has been sentenced to seven years in the state penitentiary for the May 5, 2001, death of Miranda Kelly, 19, and for serious injury to Susan Johnson.

Callentine was the driver of Miranda's car and drove off Highway 20 about 5 miles outside of Mountain Home. Callentine and his passengers were coming home from the annual party at Camp Wilson around 1:30 a.m. that day. He had been drinking alcohol and marijuana was present in his system at the time of the accident.

A jury convicted Callentine of Vehicular Manslaughter and Aggravated Driving Under the Influence. The Court spent a great deal of time at the sentencing focusing on the negative effects of drinking and driving, and using marijuana and driving, and being accountable for one's actions. "Every year the youth of the area go to Camp Wilson around the first weekend in May to party," said County Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli. "Unfortunately last year a young man made the poor choice to drive after drinking and smoking marijuana and the conequences were deadly.

"The county law enforcement officials encourage parents and teens to think about not drinking and driving as well as understanding that the legal limit for a person under the age of 21 is 0.02 blood alcobol level, for an adult it is 0.08. A single drink may produce a 0.02 level for a person to be considered legally impaired to operate a motor vehicle." The Court retained jurisdiction for 180 days, suspended Callentine's license for 5 years absolute, and required him to pay the victims in this case over $30,000 in restitution.