DUI Testimonies

Casie's Heartfelt Plea

(SC Felony DUI Offender)

My name is Casie Cunnigham #362287. I am incarcerated in Camille Griffin Graham C.I., serving a twenty-three-year sentence for felony DUI resulting in death. Those simple words cannot begin to reveal the depth of pain involved. So many lives have been altered by a choice I can't remember making, the victim's family, my family, and my sweet, beautiful daughters who are still struggling to cope with not having their mom in their daily lives. I struggled with alcoholism as a single mom, drinking while my children slept. As a preschool teacher working with my family in our own childcare centers, I was able to manage long stretches of sobriety at times through measures I took in recovery, rehab, meetings, and my relationship with the Lord. Until the horrible day on February 10, 2014, when I lost my constant battle, I waged inside myself by choosing to drink and causing a wreck that claimed the life of an innocent bystander. My addiction has claimed more than I ever imagined it would.

I remember choosing to drink, but I have no memory of choosing to drive and honestly can't believe I allowed that. There has never been any intention to hurt anyone in my life, but it made no difference to my judge on the day of my sentencing. I pled guilty, but the D.A. chose not to offer me a plea deal, instead choosing to get the maximum penalty allowed (25 years). The judge gave me two years shy of that. It is a severe sentence. I wasn't shown the same mercy that others have been shown charged with this crime, the average being ten to fifteen years.

My sentence is even more severe than others charged with crimes that have intention involved, and unfortunately, that is not uncommon to those of us punished under felony DUI classifications. We have no possibility of parole, our work credits, although earned, will not be calculated, and we receive no benefit for good behavior.

We are not criminals. Most of us do our time productively, with the thought to give back to the community from whom we took so much. All we are asking to obtain is a second chance. We aren't asking to get out of our sentences or the consequences of our choices.

I do not resent the fact that I must do time. As a citizen, I would expect it. I would just like to be heard, to be understood, and to be given a chance to make amends, to make a difference. I am praying for also the effort to reclassify this crime to something that more closely resembles the compassion I know exists in our world.

Thank you,

Casie Cunnigham

#362287