Steven Rhone’s Story Part 3 - A Mother’s Statement in Court

Posted on October 13, 2007
Filed Under DUI

Sandra Rhone lost her 19 year old son Steven Rhone to a drunk driver. Sandra wants to tell her story and express her pain. She wants to reach as many people as possible. My website and this blog provides public awareness about DUI. I welcomed Sandra to post her writings, and below is her statement to Judge Uhrig of the Whatcom County Superior Court.

A moment in time
Changed our whole lives

Although his life was cut short, I know my son lived a good life. The fact that I had a good relationship with him and that nothing was left unsaid between us, gives me peace and strength.

I thank the court for this opportunity and before you render your sentence, I would like to show a little of whom my son was and what he meant to all that knew him as well as address the four defendants.

Steven was liked by all. He had a talent to befriend anyone, including a Los Angeles homeless man that he met and took out to breakfast.

I am not here as a mother putting her son on a pedestal, but as a mother describing her son as he was. Although we disagreed from time to time, our love was unconditional and he knew that. He was trustworthy, loyal to his friends, caring and protective over his sister and loving to his girlfriend. But most of all, he was fun to be around; bad moods didn’t linger once you saw his smile.

Steven shared his passion for music, sports, history and cars with his Dad; also his intellect. I like to think that he had my heart and sense of humor. He had a great presence and self-assurance. He represented both ethnic backgrounds with equal pride and dignity.

Steven’s life was cut short, his dreams and hopes will remain unfulfilled.

We have to learn to live without him.

DAMIEN MACKAY – It is important to us that you are taking responsibility for your actions now and for your guilty plead. The difference still remains, you are here, alive and breathing and will one day celebrate your return home. You have a future, a future and a life, a future and a life that you took away from our son.

With that said, I do ask the court to consider Steven, his pain and loss; our pain and loss as well as their ACTIONS! Grant each defendant the maximum penalty allowed under the current law and more if possible. It is not much, but I hope it is a beginning to our healing, keeps the City of Bellingham a little bit safer while giving them time to reflect and hopefully rehabilitate.

Out of this loss and pain I want as much good to come out as possible.

WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO DO A LITTLE MORE
AND TO BE A LITTLE MORE; IT IS NOT SO HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING!

IF YOU DRINK DON’T DRIVE
IT IS A SIMPLE CONCEPT AND WITHIN OUR CONTROL

ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, with either good or, in this situation, terrible consequences.

And…YOU…YOU… all made a difference

Damien Mackay - You did when you got behind the wheel of a car and proceeded recklessly.

Amanda Lattrel - You did when you got in the car and later helped him cover his tracks and planned an escape. The thought that you could be out of jail real soon, for time served, just makes me more than sick.

Chad Abbott – You were the eldest in the group, Damien’s uncle and yet you didn’t make the right choices either. You even helped to cover-up his crime.

Amber Cooper - You also could of made a difference. Instead you choose to be weak and a follower. Seems you have learned nothing from all your previous offenses, I hope time in jail will help you but if not, at least your unborn child will be safe for a while.

I wish your concerns, expressed now in your letters to us, for your families and children had been a consideration on the night of June 1, 2007 BEFORE your actions killed my son!

The law sees to penalize you differently, please know that I hold you all EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE. With each wrong choice you sealed my son’s fate and our pain. YOU all made a difference to your families, yourselves, our families and most of all to
Steven Anthony Rhone Junior, our son!

It is incredible that one young man touched so many lives. Over 600 people attended his Memorial Service, $70,000 dollars was collected for a scholarship in his honor, and a neighborhood basketball court will be named in his name. Family and friends have gathered from all over the country to cry, to remember, and to laugh as we strived to come to grips with our loss.

Steven’s spirit, his smile, and his legacy will live through us all as long as we remember
And honor that ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

THANK YOU YOUR HONOR!

Next the words of Steven’s father in Steven Rhone’s Story Part 4 - A Father’s Grief.

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