Judge Answers Pleas for Leniency in Case of Enumclaw Man Charged in DUI Fatality

Kim Levine-O'Leary told Patch in August 2012 she hoped Kyle Podolak, the best friend of her son Brandon Duprie who was killed in an accident last April in Orting, would not go to jail.

Podolak had been the driver that night of the accident that also injured a third friend. Alcohol was involved, but Levine-O'Leary said the boys were lifelong friends, and losing his best friend was bad enough. “I want him [Podolak] to know that he's not a bad influence. He's a good kid and he doesn't deserve this at all. … If he goes to jail, it's going to ruin him. He's not going to be the same when he comes out.”

On Friday, a Pierce County judge agreed with her and during Podolak's sentencing after he plead guilty to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, Judge Frank Cuthbertson sentenced him as a first-time offender.

According to The Tacoma News Tribune, his sentence was a year in jail but 334 days of that time were converted to house arrest plus 30 days of community service. Cuthbertson also credited him for 274 days already spent on electronic home-monitoring while the case proceeded through the court. 

Friends and supporters expressed relief on Facebook Friday night that Podolak essentially had 60 more days on house arrest in the jail portion of his sentence.

Seat Belts Save Lives

Several friends of both Podolak and Levine-O'Leary will be honoring the memory of Duprie and sharing a lesson learned from the accident about the importance of seat belts during a two-day event on the weekend of June 8 and June 9, and the public is invited.

Krystal Atchley, Brandy Atchley and Desiree Atchley -- sisters -- are among the organizers for the 2nd Annual 'Seat Belts Saves Lives' Awareness program that this year features a car wash at Work Sports & Outdoors in Enumclaw plus an all-you-can-eat spaghetti feed and silent auction at the Orting Eagles. 

The sisters spearheaded an event last year to support Duprie's family in the aftermath of his death. They wrote on the event Facebook page: "We would like to continue to raise awareness every year to get the word out there that Seat belts actually do SAVE lives and hopefully get the point across to save other young adults."

Proceeds go toward purchasing 'Seat belts save lives' signs at Duprie's crash site in Orting, and organizers will be working with Work Sports & Outdoors to start an annual fishing derby for children.

All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Feed/ Silent Auction 
Saturday June 8 2013
4pm-11pm
@ The Orting Eagles
112 Bridge St. South
Orting, WA 98360

Car Wash
Sunday June 9, 2013
9:00am-5:00pm
@ Work Sports & Outdoors
840 Roosevelt Ave,
Enumclaw, WA 98022

Ticket Prices
$10 Spaghetti Feed
$5 for children under 12
Pre-sale tickets can be reserved by emailing Krystal Atchley @ katchley83@gmail.com

$5 Car Wash
Car wash tickets will be available at Enumclaw Day Spa in enumclaw and Specialty Sheet Metals in Kent.