Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Man pleads guilty in Kenmore crash

A man whose blood-alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit when he drove his truck into an off-duty sheriff's deputy on a motorcycle pleaded guilty Tuesday in King County Superior Court to vehicular assault.

King County prosecutors expect to recommend an 18-month prison term for Robert Cedeno, a roofer from Arizona.

King County sheriff's Deputy Donn Potteiger was off-duty and driving his personal motorcycle home to Snohomish County after working at the Seattle Seafair Torchlight Parade when he was struck by Cedeno's truck. The accident occurred as Cedeno drove out of a Kenmore tavern's parking lot onto Highway 522 about 1:35 a.m. July 29.

Potteiger, 56, was severely injured; his right leg was amputated below the knee, and he suffered a torn aorta as well as other internal injuries.

At the time of his arrest, Cedeno had a 0.31 percent blood-alcohol level. The state's measure for intoxication is 0.08 percent.

The standard range for vehicular assault is three to nine months, but prosecutors planned to recommend an exceptional sentence of 18 months because Potteiger was severely injured. The sentencing is scheduled Nov. 2.

Seattle Criminal Defense

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