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| Alfredo Ramos enters court in Virginia Beach on Monday.
(L. Todd spencer photos | the virginian-pilot) |
By Duane Bourne
The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH
Alfredo Ramos was ordered to serve 24 years in prison and then be deported for the drunken driving crash that killed two teenage girls in March.
If he tries to return to the country, he faces additional time, a judge said Monday.
The 22-year-old apologized for what his drinking caused that night. Speaking through a translator, he asked that justice “be even.”
“I never in my life thought that that day something terrible would happen,” Ramos told Circuit Judge Thomas Shadrick. “I don’t have anything to pay with. The only thing I have is my life.”
Shadrick assured Ramos he would not make an emotional decision, but he said the case was not like the others in which the sentencing guidelines call for between four and 10 years .
“Your act of getting behind the wheel demonstrates a gross disregard for every person in this community,” Shadrick said. “This is a case that clearly warrants going beyond the guidelines.”
 Natasha Knaggs, 17, left center, hugs Hillary Batten, 16, in the courtroom before the sentencing started, the two were friends of Alison Kunhardt and Tessa Tranchant. |
Shadrick sentenced Ramos, who pleaded guilty in August to two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, to 40 years and suspended a portion. He also issued a warning: Should Ramos return to this country after his release, he would have to serve the remaining 16 years.
David Laird, a deputy prosecutor, said Ramos had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.24 on March 30 as he traveled at least 65 mph down Virginia Beach Boulevard in a stupor he likened to driving in the dark with sunglasses.
Alison Kunhardt, 17, was waiting at the stoplight at Kings Grant Road with Tessa Tranchant, 16, beside her when Ramos plowed into the back of the Plymouth Duster. Both teens died.
The case of an illegal Mexican immigrant who had three prior criminal convictions involving alcohol made national headlines.
Ramos’ immigration status was not the issue; his poor judgment was, argued Richard Clark, a senior assistant public defender. Clark asked the judge not to sentence Ramos to a prison term longer than called for by the guidelines.
It was clear in court that the deaths of the two girls had a lasting effect on their families and friends, some of whom wore T-shirts with the girls’ photographs and a journal entry from Tessa called “My idea of heaven” on the back. She wrote: “is a nonstop vacation on a tropical island … all the people I love would be there with me.”
 Alfredo Ramos, listening to a Spanish translation at his sentencing Monday. |
Many of them applauded and gasped when Shadrick imposed his sentence.
For some, the decision was bittersweet and offered little closure.
Colette Tranchant said her life is empty. Her daughter won’t attend college, or have a career or children.
Alison’s mother, Corby Lane, recalled holding her daughter for the first time at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital , and the last, at the same hospital. There is no pain like losing a child, she testified.
And David Kunhardt said he wondered whether the last 234 days have been real.
“If I were to have one wish, it is that Alfredo Ramos would have to visit Ali and Tessa at Princess Anne Memorial Park Cemetery for the rest of his life,” he said, reading from a statement that he said he rewrote more than 20 times.
Ray Tranchant asked that the judge send a message that illegal immigrants should be punished and never allowed to return. Tranchant, who has become a national advocate on immigration issues, said his daughter would be proud.
“She is going to be a voice,” he said as he left the courthouse. “Nothing would ever make me happy because Tessa won’t be here. It is only the beginning here with me.”
Duane Bourne, (757) 222-5150,
duane.bourne@pilotonline.com
 Corby Lane, mother of Alison Kunhardt, looks up with tears in her eye as she talks about her daughter on the stand before the sentencing. |
 Kelsey Tranchant watches from the courtroom with tears rolling down her face, as photos from the accident scene are shown. |
 Colette Tranchant testifies Monday about her daughter, Tessa, who was killed by a drunk driver. Relatives of Tessa and Alison Kunhardt, who also died in the crash, said they still suffer from the loss. |
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Maybe this case will make a difference
Here in the East, illegals from Mexico have been, for a long time, "someone else's problem". Now they are here and doing what they've been doing on border states for decades. Why are they here? Because a lot of business owners want to increase their profit margins. The people of the Southwest have been ignored by Easterners for decades. Now, the problem has come to the "Old Guard". Maybe now it will be dealt with. They will not come if they have no jobs. Business owners---quit hiring "coyotes" to bring you cheap labor. ICE--quit looking the other way!
deport them all ?
Deport them all. So he can sneak back across the border again What will that acomplish . let him sit in jail for the next 24 at least he cant hurt any one . And what do you mean by all. Some of the all work harder then most of us. the all is willing to work while some of us just collect a check every month for doing nothing. I dont think all of them is the correct terminolgy. Just becareful what you ask for or you will picking your own crop and replacing your own roofs for three times the cost.
Bottom line from my point of view
Bill B- Your right, the punishment does not fit the crime. Look at the facts. First, he was here illegally. Next, he had 2 previous alcohol related offenses, including a DUI. Then he chose to go out, consume not just one or two, but numerous alcoholic drinks. He chose to get in the car. He chose to drive while over twice the legal limit. He had intent.
His intent might not have been to end the lives of two young women, but it was his intent to enter this country illegally, and then drive will intoxicated on that night. He should have been charged with voluntary manslaughter. He chose to put himself in the situation.
His punishment makes him a burden on our society for 24 years. Deport him now!
Multi problems
Driving while drunk is illegal, he did not obey that law. But he was already illegal by being here, he did not obey that law either & broke that one first. Courts are to blame by not having him deported when he was first caught. The city government was to blame for allowing him to feel welcome here (thanks Meyera). The governor is to blame for not helping to enforce federal law by intoducing state law to get rid of illegals. Fed gov't is to blame for not enforcing borders or getting rid of all illegals caught even for minor offenses. We all have paid enough for illegals, the two lovely young women with their lives. Is it not time we get rid of the 12 million illegal aliens in this country ? Deport them all no matter what the cost.
And I say
Punish the courts and the justice system that has already let this man slip through the cracks repeatedly. I view them just as responsible for letting this man continue to have a license and to have not been deported the last 3 times he's been through the legal system. No matter what color the guy was, he would have gotten the same sentence. I am sure the fact he was a repeat offender of DUI etc. was taken into account when the sentence was handed down. I see no reason to argue the racial aspect of this. I think no matter what color he was he'd get the same verdict.
Tragedy
This is awfully sad. Two young women have been wiped out by an illegal alien, who is a young man who drove drunk. This is obviously a tragedy for the young women's families, but it's also a tragedy for the young man. Everyone's high hopes have been dashed. The young women won't be able to go to college, get careers and become mothers. And the young man must have sneaked into America hoping for a better life. But he also discovered alcohol, which our unsophisticated ancestors referred to as "Demon Rum." Some people can drink but others cannot. He could not. If he had been caught with previous DUIs, why wasn't he punished before he killed someone?
Some People are responding to the wrong story Di DDO
Daniel M and bill b MUST BE READING some other story in the National Enquirer! READ THE VIRGINIA PILOT of HAMPTON ROADS !!!!!!!!!!!!!Send this to Lou Dobbs Let the NATION choose what should Happen to Alfredo Ramos ! WOW
Ramos Sentencing
My fiancee was killed by a drunk driver on June 16th of this year by a second offense drunk driver with a BAC greater than Ramos at 7 in the morning. My heart hurts for the families affected by Ramos and the thousand of victims of drunk drivers. There is a difference between negligence and reckless disregard for life. People who get behind the wheel drunk are reckless and ANY of you can fall victim to them. It is about time the court system recognizes the threat these repeat offenders are to society. I only hope that, sans Bill O'Reilly and national attention, the offender that took away the love of my life is given a comparable sentence on Dec 11th.
drunk driving
This case was less to do with illegal immigration and more to do with drunk driving. If you had obeyed the law of the land and common sense this would not have happened.
Local and State governments need to do more... its not hard!
Local and State politicians should take notice that they need to do a better job with protecting its citizens and have MUCH more to do when it comes to both drunk drivers and illegal immigration. They need to make sure when an illegal immigrant is caught that they are reported to ICE and have it well documented if ICE refuses to do anything so we can hold ICE accountable. Also penalize businesses that hire illegals just like with what happened to the seafood company in Newport News and that will help reduce illegal immigration! Last but not least….drunk drivers have always been a problem and more needs to be done about them too!