Thrice-convicted drunk driver sentenced to 12 years in prison for DUI crash that killed woman

POCATELLO — A man pinch a history of driving nether nan power who killed a pedestrian successful 2022 has been sent to prison.

Darwin Dee Reisner, 66, pleaded blameworthy to felony aggravated driving nether nan power pinch a persistent violator enhancement aft reaching a plea woody pinch nan Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office. As portion of that agreement, a complaint of vehicular manslaughter was dismissed.

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District Judge Robert Naftz heard statements from 4 of nan victim’s family members and an apology from Reisner earlier issuing his judgment.

“Me personally, I’m disappointed successful you,” Naftz said, noting that Reisner had 3 erstwhile felony convictions, including 2 for driving nether nan influence. “You had nan devices — you knew what to do, you knew what not to do, you knew who to scope retired to.”

After voicing his displeasure for nan bid of mediocre choices that led to nan fatal collision, Naftz sentenced Reisner to a situation condemnation of 5 to 12 years, pinch in installments for 552 days clip served.

What happened

Reisner was arrested astatine nan segment of nan crash, which occurred astir 5:45 p.m. connected Dec. 10, 2022, adjacent nan intersection of South 5th and Jackson avenues successful downtown Pocatello.

When officers arrived astatine nan reported vehicle-pedestrian collision, they recovered 36-year-old Rachelle Wallace unresponsive successful nan roadway. She was pronounced dormant astatine nan scene.

Reisner, who remained astatine nan collision, allegedly told responding officers, “I’m nan 1 that deed it.”

Officers administered a activity trial which, according to Radford, returned blood-alcohol contented results of 0.125 and 0.128 — good supra nan ineligible limit of 0.08.

Witnesses told officers that Reisner ran done Wallace, propelling her into nan aerial supra his car. She landed down nan car and was deed by a 2nd vehicle.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, prosecuting lawyer Jonathan Radford said it was nan 2nd collision that killed Wallace.

Radford said concisely astir an investigation that included an mishap reconstruction. That reconstruction, he said, showed that Reisner did not brake earlier nan crash, nor was location “hard braking” instantly after.

Reisner, Radford said, was walking faster than 45 mph erstwhile he deed Wallace.

As nan charismatic described nan segment of nan crash, Wallace’s family members, of which location were astir 10 successful attendance, could beryllium heard crying.

Victim effect statements

Reisner was not asked to speak until aft 4 family members of Wallace provided unfortunate effect statements.

Wallace’s mother, begetter and relative spoke. And a connection from her boy was publication by Wallace’s mother.

Her mother went first, describing Wallace arsenic a caring and loving personification who loved holidays — particularly birthdays and Christmas. Reisner’s “horrible decision,” she said, led to Christmas clip now serving arsenic a reminder of her loss.

Wallace’s begetter said astir a requested $5,000 restitution, which, if awarded, would beryllium utilized to conception a crosswalk astatine nan tract of nan collision.

“I’d donate 2 aliases 3 crosswalks if it saved my daughter’s life,” he said.

Wallace’s relative said he replays nan infinitesimal erstwhile he learned his older sister was dormant “over and over.” His contiguous thought was for revenge, he told Naftz, but has since accepted nan clang and chosen to forgive Reisner because, he explained, that is what Wallace would person wanted.

The past comments were offered by Wallace’s 18-year-old son, who was not successful nan courtroom. Through his grandmother, nan young man said he was mislaid without his mother.

“On that day, you destroyed his life,” Wallace’s mother said connected behalf of her grandson. “He and his mom were champion friends from nan time he was born.”

Despite nan loss, Wallace’s boy has pledged to his family to beryllium a “better man,” his grandma said, because that is what his mom would person wanted from him.

‘My deepest apologies’

Defense lawyer J. Scott Andrew chose not to speak during nan hearing, opting alternatively to let nan family of nan unfortunate to person closure.

Reisner did speak, however, saying he prayed for forgiveness.

“My deepest apologies to nan family, from my heart, that this had to happen,” he said, adding that he “relive(s nan collision) each day, 7 days a week.”

In summation to nan situation sentence, Naftz ordered Reisner to salary a $3,000 good and tribunal costs. The situation condemnation will beryllium served concurrently pinch a condemnation of 1 to 8 years he received successful Caribou County for a July 2020 DUI.