Drunken Driver May Avoid Prison

A man convicted of killing his friend in a drunken driving accident could spend up to seven years in prison, a judge ordered Tuesday.

However, Randy J. Cayko, 33, of Hayden, may avoid prison by spending 180 days in an evaluation program, 1st District Judge James Judd ordered.

John L. Nelson, 41 of Coeur d’Alene, died May 25, 1996. He and his brother opened J&D Stereo in Coeur d’Alene in 1978.

Nelson and Cayko had spent the evening drinking together. Cayko was driving northbound on state Highway 97 at about 5 p.m., according to Idaho State Police. He was driving Nelson’s 1985 Mercedes as Nelson rode in the passenger’s seat.

North of Harrison, Cayko came around a curve, left the roadway and crashed. Nelson died at the scene.

Cayko’s blood alcohol level was measured at .17, said Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Lansing Haynes. That level is nearly twice the level considered legally drunk.

Cayko has previously been convicted of drunken driving, inattentive driving, passing when not permitted, speeding, trespassing and battery, according to court records.

But Cayko contends that his friend asked him to drive the car after they left the last bar, Haynes said. Nelson’s blood level was measured at .20.

Cayko pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter.

Judd sentenced Cayko to three to seven years in prison and retained jurisdiction. That means the judge will reconsider the sentence after Cayko has spent 180 days being evaluated.

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