Woman whose car struck boys on bike gets sentence reduced

By Journal staff | Tuesday, December 02, 2008

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The woman who hit two boys on bicycles while driving drunk will likely get out of prison sooner than expected, and she has her victims to thank for it.

Tamara Bradford, 39, is serving two consecutive eight-year prison sentences after pleading guilty to two counts of vehicular battery. On Monday her attorney, Betsey Harris, asked 7th Circuit Judge John Delaney to effectively reduce that by making the two sentences concurrent. That would allow Bradford to be paroled sooner, enter alcohol treatment sooner, and speak to high school students sooner.

One of the victim's mothers spoke in Bradford's support.

"I just can't see how this wouldn't be a good idea," said Cara Riker, whose son Sebastian suffered a concussion when he was struck by Bradford in September 2007. "If we wait too long too many people will forget what happened."

Bradford pleaded guilty last February. Her blood-alcohol level was three times the legal driving limit when she ran into Riker and Andrew Ihle, who were stopped on the side of the road at the intersection of North LaCrosse Street and Seger Drive.

Ihle required surgery for a broken arm.

Currently Bradford can attend 12-step meetings in prison, but she will not be eligible for treatment programs until several months before her parole date, Harris said. Both Sebastian, 16, and Andrew, 15, would like Bradford to speak to students.

Those speeches could be even more effective since they could include the boys themselves. At Sebastian's suggestion, both boys and their parents met with Bradford through the Restorative Justice program, which brings offenders and victims together to bring about healing and find peace following a crime or dispute.

After the accident, Cara Riker never expected to be anything but angry toward Bradford. "I have to give it all to (Restorative Justice)," she said. "As long as people get the help that they need, that's really what it's about."

"We do want her to get help," agreed Keri Ihle, Andrew's mother.

Assistant Pennington County State's Attorney Josh Hendrickson said the state opposed the sentence revision, although he appreciated Bradford's willingness to speak to young people. "That opportunity will still be there in the future for her," he said.

If not for the victims' support, Delaney said he would not do what he did, which was to suspend Bradford's second eight-year sentence. That makes her eligible for parole next fall. She will be under supervision for 10 years following her release.

"I'm not a believer that talking to the schools does much good," Delaney said. "On the other hand, I think if you keep one (drunk driver) off the streets you've done something that's positive."

Delaney also noted that no one else can make Bradford stop drinking.

"That's it Ms. Bradford," he said. "Your future's in your hands."

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com