Plea bargain for drunk driver who hit, injured 2 in South Delridge

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from June 23rd)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Six months after drunkenly running a stop sign and T-boning a car at 17th/Cambridge, seriously injuring two people, and running away, 26-year-old Kalameu (aka Kalameli) Paulo is awaiting sentencing after a plea bargain. One of the two people she hit, 29-year-old Logan Wicker, on his way home from work at Skylark when Paulo hit his car, spent weeks in the hospital before moving to a rehabilitation facility.

According to King County Superior Court documents, Paulo pleaded guilty last week to the two vehicular-assault charges (incorporating DUI) against her, while the third charge, felony hit-and-run, was dropped. She was in jail for less than three weeks after her arrest; her request for lower bail was granted on condition she participate in the “day reporting” program CCAP (explained here), and documents indicate that will continue until her sentencing in five weeks. Her blood-alcohol level is reported to have been .16 when measured after the crash, twice the legal-drunkenness threshold level. Her criminal record is described as consisting of a theft case in Renton and two cases six years ago in Las Vegas, theft and prostitution. Police said she had only lived in Western Washington (she lists a Seatac address) for five months at the time of the crash.

The recommended sentence detailed in the plea-agreement documents is 14 months (for each count, but served concurrently), followed by 18 months of probation (technically “community custody”) with stipulations including staying out of bars and liquor stores, and only driving with an interlock device that won’t work if her blood-alcohol level is above .02. Superior Court Judge Julie Spector is scheduled to preside at Paulo’s sentencing at the downtown courthouse January 31st.

There’s been no public update on Logan Wicker since August, and we have never had a public update on his passenger, reported to have suffered a serious head injury. But we’re trying to find out, and will add anything we get.

West Seattle Hipster December 27, 2013 (6:01 pm)

Any mention of restitution to the victims for medical bills?

Marianne December 27, 2013 (6:06 pm)

Thank you for the update. I think about Logan and his passenger every time I drive past that site. With the repaving of Delridge, the stop sign that Ms. Paolu ran is gone and the road has been turned into a sidewalk. I really do hope that she has finally learned a lesson. I am saddened that she will be allowed to drive. Does she have to take any responsibility for what are probably massive medical bills for the innocent people that she hit?

comment December 27, 2013 (7:52 pm)

Well… she owes about $100,000 to Logan for all his bills and lost work. I doubt her prostitution and thievery wages will cover that, so I think she should spend as many days in jail that $100k will pay for.

WSB December 27, 2013 (8:10 pm)

Restitution is listed as “TBD.” No elaboration on how the amount will be worked out – sometimes these things are subject to subsequent hearings.

Beth December 27, 2013 (9:16 pm)

Really. What does it take to punish a drunk-driver. Do they have to kill someone first? Ridiculous.
—–
You guys seem to be friends with Logan. How is he doing?

flimflam December 27, 2013 (9:40 pm)

totally insane. this was not an accident and this person is dangerous….so of course, by all means, be easy on this poor poor drunk.

alistair December 28, 2013 (1:18 am)

I guess I’m fine with not jailing her for a huge amount of time – there are finite resources and I’m not convinced it’ll help change her for the better.

As for driving again? This woman should *never* legally drive again, interlock or otherwise. She’s demonstrated that she has no regard for other road users on multiple occasions.

Why do we seem to believe that driving is some legal right? It’s not – it’s a privilege.

Laura December 28, 2013 (6:10 am)

This story should be shared with our teens and young adults. Driving drunk is morally wrong. No matter her punishment, the damage has been done. Lives have been dramatically altered. I hope this person gets serious counseling during imprisonment and after to alter her behavior. Maybe she can start adding value to society rather than simply hurting herself and others.

Omar Barraza December 28, 2013 (7:51 am)

With respect to the medical bills and pain and suffering damages, she is legally obligated as long as she lives. These types of debts cannot ever be discharged in bankruptcy.

If the victims had no insurance, the WA Crime Victims Comprnsation fund will pay the bills and then go after the criminal. If they had insurance, those companies will pay and then look to the perpetrator for reimbursement.

It’s crucial we all carry un/der insured motorist and PIP coverage.

As sad as it is that this crime will haunt the victims for a long time, rest assured it will haunt the criminal as long as she lives until she pays the victims.

wscommuter December 28, 2013 (9:26 am)

WSHipster … restitution will be ordered at her sentencing hearing in a few weeks. It is never addressed before then; that is the point at which the court has the authority to enter such an order.

To the larger point – the size of her sentence – raise the issue with your state legislator if you don’t like what she’s facing. Judges are limited to what punishment can be imposed by the Sentencing Reform Act. Only Olympia can adjust the standard range punishment for vehicular assault and vehicular homocide.

ScubaFrog December 28, 2013 (1:12 pm)

Why are the sentencing guidelines in this state so lax?

WestSide45 December 28, 2013 (4:01 pm)

Laura says drunk driving is morally wrong. The problem is morality is not appropriate to teach any longer…someone might be offended by what you consider moral—everyone must be allowed to do their own thing. These are the consequences we must suffer when morality is taken out of the equation.

loveswside December 28, 2013 (6:42 pm)

As a family friend of the Victim- I hope she gets the maximum sentence. she has changed his life and his families life forever. This wasn’t a little bump and scratch kind of accident. I hope you realize how much you unfairly affected them because you decided to get in your car and drive drunk- not to mention your passengers they should be accountable too- you knowingly got in the car of a drunk driver, hit someone and fled the seen. I hope karma catched up with all of you sooner than later.

D.D.S. December 28, 2013 (8:58 pm)

Scubafrog; This is a Liberal State,(Soft on Crime).

WestSeattleFamilyAbroad January 5, 2014 (7:57 pm)

As a friend of Logan I say this, no matter what punishment this poor excuse of a human is, his life, all of our lives have been affected by this. No amount of punishment or restitution will ever heal that wound. Love you Logan, always thinking about you big guy and I know you will fight back from this all to live a long and prosperous life.

Sorry, comment time is over.