Man Gets 2 Years For Vehicular Homicide; Must Talk To Teens
A Spokane Valley man convicted of vehicular homicide for causing an accident that killed a 16-year-old girl was sentenced Monday to two years in prison, but may serve his time in a state work camp.
Additionally, Superior Court Judge Robert Austin ordered 20-year-old Anthony Lazanis to speak to high school students about the evils of drinking and driving.
“I am so sorry for causing Anna’s family and my family all this pain and heartache,” Lazanis told Austin. “I would change my life for Anna’s if I could because my pain never ends.”
Lazanis lost control of his Ford Bronco last February on Northwood Drive, rolling it in a driveway. Anna Sherman, a 16-year-old passenger, was partially ejected and trapped underneath the truck. Sherman died two blocks from her home.
Authorities argued at Lazanis’ trial that the 1995 West Valley High School graduate was drunk at the time of the accident. Prosecutors wanted the jury to convict Lazanis on the more serious form of vehicular homicide - driving while impaired.
On Monday, Timothy Sherman, Anna’s father, asked Austin to send a message to Lazanis and others to think about the consequences before drinking and driving.
“There are a lot of kids out there in similar situations,” Sherman said. “The courts have a responsibility to send a message to those kids. Fear is not the best restraint, but it is one.”
Deputy Prosecutor Larry Steinmetz said Lazanis showed a lack of remorse by fleeing into the woods after the March 1, 1996, accident, later seeking medical treatment in Idaho while authorities were searching for him.
Steinmetz argued that Lazanis’ previous failure in an alcohol treatment program warranted an exceptional sentence beyond the standard of 21 to 27 months in prison. Lazanis underwent alcohol treatment following a one-car, alcohol-related accident in 1995 and did not successfully complete portions of the program, Steinmetz said.
“I would say at the very least Mr. Lazanis’ actions with regard to vehicular homicide were predictable,” Steinmetz said.
But Lazanis’ friends and family depicted a person who has turned his life around during the 14 months since the accident. The former high school soccer standout entered another alcohol treatment program, sought emotional counseling and got a job, they said.
“This kid was 19 when the accident happened,” said Lazanis’ attorney, Julie Twyford. “He hadn’t lived a whole lot. This lesson will be one that he carries with him the rest of his life.”
Austin said the fact that Lazanis checked for a pulse on Sherman and tried to lift the truck off of her showed significant remorse.
Lazanis ran off threatening to kill himself because he was remorseful, Austin said before imposing the sentence.
“(Lazanis) cannot forgive himself for being the driver that night,” said Lazanis’ mother, Andrea.
“He cannot forgive himself for not being able to lift the truck off Anna.”
Austin recommended that Lazanis serve his time in a work camp at the McNeil Island Corrections Center, where prisoners undergo a rigorous routine of manual labor and classes in return for reduced sentences. There, Lazanis will learn discipline and other useful skills, Austin said.
Upon successful completion of the camp, Lazanis would serve the remainder of his sentence on supervised community placement.
Timothy Sherman was disappointed by Austin’s sentence, saying it was too lenient.
“When you take somebody’s life there’s no way to pay it back,” Sherman said after the sentencing.
“My greatest concern is that he will do it again. I pray that he won’t.”
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