June 19, 2005
Drunk Gets Only 29 Months for Killing Firefighter
"St. Cloud, Minn. - A St. Cloud, Minn. man who killed a firefighter while driving drunk was sentenced Friday to more than two years in prison.
Lorin Pfannenstein, 38, pleaded guilty in April in Stearns County District Court to grossly negligent criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Don Billig. Billig, who was 49, was struck by a pickup truck Pfannenstein was driving in October 2003 near St. Augusta, Minn. after Billig had helped to put out a fire.
Pfannenstein had been drinking the night of the crash and didn't remember the crash or walking away from it. He passed out in the yard of a house near the crash scene and woke up the next morning, unaware of what had happened.
Pfannenstein apologized in court Friday.
But Billig's widow, LouAnn Billig, said Pfannenstein deserved a stiffer sentence.
"Dons gone forever and (Pfannenstein is) only going to get 29 months in prison. I wish it could have been longer," she said.
Pfannenstein had two drunken driving convictions before the fatal crash.
St. Augusta is about five miles south of St. Cloud."
From NINN
I agree LouAnn. Your family deserved to see this pathetic waste get more time! God bless you. Our sincerest sympathies to you and your family.
Lorin Pfannenstein, 38, pleaded guilty in April in Stearns County District Court to grossly negligent criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Don Billig. Billig, who was 49, was struck by a pickup truck Pfannenstein was driving in October 2003 near St. Augusta, Minn. after Billig had helped to put out a fire.
Pfannenstein had been drinking the night of the crash and didn't remember the crash or walking away from it. He passed out in the yard of a house near the crash scene and woke up the next morning, unaware of what had happened.
Pfannenstein apologized in court Friday.
But Billig's widow, LouAnn Billig, said Pfannenstein deserved a stiffer sentence.
"Dons gone forever and (Pfannenstein is) only going to get 29 months in prison. I wish it could have been longer," she said.
Pfannenstein had two drunken driving convictions before the fatal crash.
St. Augusta is about five miles south of St. Cloud."
From NINN
I agree LouAnn. Your family deserved to see this pathetic waste get more time! God bless you. Our sincerest sympathies to you and your family.