The commutation request has been granted and Chuck will be coming home. This result reflects the persistent belief that justice must be applied with fairness and human context. We have achieved this outcome together and I am grateful for the quiet strength demonstrated throughout this process.
On June 15, 2006 a group of 5 teenagers was out driving when one of them threw a water bottle out of the window. The bottle allegedly hit another car and the driver of that car, Randal Krell, turned around and chased the teens. He chased them for miles down a two-lane, unlit country highway through two stop signs until they ultimately hit a tree. Mr. Krell then left the scene before police or paramedics arrived. One of the teens, 17-year-old Charlie Fackelman, died as a result of the crash. His best friend, Stevie Beale, was paralyzed. For this, Mr. Krell served 6 months of a 9 month sentence.
Mr. Krell has never apologized for his actions. He has told lie after lie, even prompting the sentencing judge to call his story ridiculous.
Charlie\'s dad, Charles Fackelman, struggled for months over the death of his son and Mr. Krell\'s subsequent behavior. In a psychotic state, he went to Randal Krell\'s home to confront him about the accident. He took a gun. After talking to Mr. Fackelman for a few seconds, Mr. Krell went to a neighbor\'s house. Mr. Fackelman pursued him but never found him. There were no physical injuries of any kind. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison. Chuck is now serving this sentence at Muskegon Penitentiary in Michigan.
We feel that if you consider the symbol for justice in this country, the scales are completely off balance. One man uses a deadly weapon to chase a car full of teens and the result is the death of one and the paralysis of another. He served 6 months. The other uses a deadly weapon to scare two adults. The result is nothing except two frightened men. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Four of the jurors in this case have come forward to say they were confused about the verdict choices. One called and then sent a letter to the court. The judge still would not grant a mistrial.
We feel that this case merits a second look. Mr. Fackelman has no prior criminal record and the circumstances make it unjust to follow sentencing guidelines. Mr. Fackelman needs mental help, not prison.
If you agree that Governor Granholm should consider a commutation of Charles Fackelman\'s sentence please sign this petition. We will be sending it to Governor Granholm\'s office by email and United States Postal Service.
Just to be clear, here is the definition of a commutation of sentence:
\"commutation of sentence in criminal law, reduction of a sentence for a criminal act by action of the executive head of the government. Like pardon , commutation of sentence is a matter of grace, not of right; it is distinguished from pardon, however, in that the conviction of crime is not nullified. The commutation, hence, may be granted on condition that the criminal observe certain restrictions for the balance of his original sentence. \"
** PLEASE NOTE - After you click the button below to \"SIGN PETITION\", you may
see a screen asking for a donation to iPetition. You can close your browser at
that point. As long as you have clicked \"SIGN PETITION\", your signature and
other data will still be recorded. Thank you!
Reaching one hundred signatures will provide a necessary anchor for the conversations we intend to have with the parole board. Please consider sending this link to a few people today so we can reach that threshold while our momentum remains steady.
6 Comments
S
Sarah Ramirez
18 years ago
Featured
Justice system is broken. Chuck lost his son and now he's losing his life in prison while the guy who caused it walks free. Let him go home.
J
Jessica Becker
18 years ago
Featured
Heart goes out to this family. They have been through enough already. Free Chuck.
T
Tom May
18 years ago
Featured
The sentence is totally blown out of proportion. He took a gun to talk not to kill. 6 years is way too much for a man who just wanted answers.
L
Lisa Bauer
18 years ago
Featured
Poor guy reached a breaking point everyone would have. Enough is enough let him out.
D
Dave Hale
18 years ago
Featured
This makes me sick. 6 months for a kid's life and 6 years for a grieving father who didnt even hurt anyone? Something is seriously wrong with our courts.
M
Mike Saunders
18 years ago
Featured
RIDICULOUS. Krell should be the one behind bars for a long time. The man who killed a teen and crippled another gets off light? Unbelievable.
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The commutation request has been granted and Chuck will be coming home. This result reflects the persistent belief that justice must be applied with fairness and human context. We have achieved this outcome together and I am grateful for the quiet strength demonstrated throughout this process.
On June 15, 2006 a group of 5 teenagers was out driving when one of them threw a water bottle out of the window. The bottle allegedly hit another car and the driver of that car, Randal Krell, turned around and chased the teens. He chased them for miles down a two-lane, unlit country highway through two stop signs until they ultimately hit a tree. Mr. Krell then left the scene before police or paramedics arrived. One of the teens, 17-year-old Charlie Fackelman, died as a result of the crash. His best friend, Stevie Beale, was paralyzed. For this, Mr. Krell served 6 months of a 9 month sentence.
Mr. Krell has never apologized for his actions. He has told lie after lie, even prompting the sentencing judge to call his story ridiculous.
Charlie\'s dad, Charles Fackelman, struggled for months over the death of his son and Mr. Krell\'s subsequent behavior. In a psychotic state, he went to Randal Krell\'s home to confront him about the accident. He took a gun. After talking to Mr. Fackelman for a few seconds, Mr. Krell went to a neighbor\'s house. Mr. Fackelman pursued him but never found him. There were no physical injuries of any kind. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison. Chuck is now serving this sentence at Muskegon Penitentiary in Michigan.
We feel that if you consider the symbol for justice in this country, the scales are completely off balance. One man uses a deadly weapon to chase a car full of teens and the result is the death of one and the paralysis of another. He served 6 months. The other uses a deadly weapon to scare two adults. The result is nothing except two frightened men. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Four of the jurors in this case have come forward to say they were confused about the verdict choices. One called and then sent a letter to the court. The judge still would not grant a mistrial.
We feel that this case merits a second look. Mr. Fackelman has no prior criminal record and the circumstances make it unjust to follow sentencing guidelines. Mr. Fackelman needs mental help, not prison.
If you agree that Governor Granholm should consider a commutation of Charles Fackelman\'s sentence please sign this petition. We will be sending it to Governor Granholm\'s office by email and United States Postal Service.
Just to be clear, here is the definition of a commutation of sentence:
\"commutation of sentence in criminal law, reduction of a sentence for a criminal act by action of the executive head of the government. Like pardon , commutation of sentence is a matter of grace, not of right; it is distinguished from pardon, however, in that the conviction of crime is not nullified. The commutation, hence, may be granted on condition that the criminal observe certain restrictions for the balance of his original sentence. \"
** PLEASE NOTE - After you click the button below to \"SIGN PETITION\", you may
see a screen asking for a donation to iPetition. You can close your browser at
that point. As long as you have clicked \"SIGN PETITION\", your signature and
other data will still be recorded. Thank you!
Reaching one hundred signatures will provide a necessary anchor for the conversations we intend to have with the parole board. Please consider sending this link to a few people today so we can reach that threshold while our momentum remains steady.
6 Comments
S
Sarah Ramirez
18 years ago
Featured
Justice system is broken. Chuck lost his son and now he's losing his life in prison while the guy who caused it walks free. Let him go home.
J
Jessica Becker
18 years ago
Featured
Heart goes out to this family. They have been through enough already. Free Chuck.
T
Tom May
18 years ago
Featured
The sentence is totally blown out of proportion. He took a gun to talk not to kill. 6 years is way too much for a man who just wanted answers.
L
Lisa Bauer
18 years ago
Featured
Poor guy reached a breaking point everyone would have. Enough is enough let him out.
D
Dave Hale
18 years ago
Featured
This makes me sick. 6 months for a kid's life and 6 years for a grieving father who didnt even hurt anyone? Something is seriously wrong with our courts.
M
Mike Saunders
18 years ago
Featured
RIDICULOUS. Krell should be the one behind bars for a long time. The man who killed a teen and crippled another gets off light? Unbelievable.
Justice system is broken. Chuck lost his son and now he's losing his life in prison while the guy who caused it walks free. Let him go home.