‘Too Light’ Sentence in Gossage Fatality
A Lakewood man was sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years probation on Feb. 16 as part of a plea deal for fatally striking a teenager in East Long Beach in 2021.
Kevin Chris Dahl pleaded no contest in late January to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for crashing into 16-year-old Aiden Gossage, killing him while he was crossing the street of Los Coyotes Diagonal and Deborah Street in September 2021.
In addition to jail time and probation, Dahl will also have to perform 30 days of community service as well as a driving safety course. He will have the opportunity to reduce his conviction to a misdemeanor once he completes a year of probation.
At his sentencing, no evidence was presented that Dahl had been impaired while driving. Evidence did show, however, that Dahl was driving between 10 to 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, according to Deputy District Attorney Samantha Borghi.
The parents and family of Gossage, a Millikan High School senior at the time of his death, have since expressed their dismay at Dahl’s sentencing, saying it is too light.
Gregory Gossage, Aiden’s father said during the January trial “I don’t think it is a very fitting end to my son’s life, but it gives me some solace to think my son gave his life so that Mr. Dahl can learn to be a better driver.”
Originally, Dahl was charged with one count of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence by prosecutors, which has a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
Category:
- Log in to post comments