Man
gets 45 days in jail for assault while drinking
By Amanda Mears
December 13, 2007 | Eric M. Swenson, 22, was sentenced
Tuesday to 45 days in the Cache County Jail for two
counts of assault, a class-A misdemeanor.
Swenson was also ordered to pay restitution to victims
for any hospital bills incurred by the assault.
Swenson, who had no criminal background, told the judge
the assault was a one-time incident caused by alcohol
and that he never planned on drinking again.
Judge Timothy R. Hanson told Swenson it was one thing
to "get liquored up" but another to assault friends
without any recollection of it. Hanson advised Swenson
to think seriously about about ever drinking again,
since it had such a volatile effect.
Although Swenson said he was ready to face his sentence
and take full responsibility of his actions, Swenson's
attorney argued that the recommended 90 days of jail
time was excessive, since Swenson had no prior history
of assault and was not a risk for a substance abuse
problem.
In addition to serving his time in jail, Swenson will
be on probation for 24 months after his release.
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