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« Nonviolence agency gets aid in fight against gangs | Today | Senate president seeks longer moratorium on shutoffs » March 24, 2008Update: Woman pleads not guilty to DUI / Photo
A 45-year-old woman today pleaded not guilty to two felony driving charges resulting from a car crash last summer that left a South Kingstown teenager critically hurt. Heidi Harrall, of South Kingstown, entered the plea on charges from a March 14 grand jury indictment: driving under the influence, serious bodily injury resulting and driving to endanger, personal injury resulting. Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Nugent heard that Harrall had been discharged Friday from substance abuse treatment and told her to return in two weeks to show she is participating in continued outpatient treatment. He allowed the $10,000 cash bail she posted in District Court last year to be transferred to Superior Court. South Kingstown police say Harrall was driving south on Route 1 last June when she tried to pass a car. She crossed the yellow line, police said, and swerved back into the southbound lanes, lost control, and drove into the shoulder. Sylvia Bogusz, 17, was standing on the shoulder, waiting for her mother to arrive and help her with a flat tire. She was returning from a South Kingstown High School graduation celebration with her family. According to police reports at the time, Bogusz had followed recommended procedures: she called for help, and stood away from the road. Bogusz's mother was the first to find her, bleeding in the southbound lane of Route 1, about 100 feet from where police say Harrall struck her. Police estimate Harrall was driving faster than 90 mph. Defense lawyer Robert B. Mann told Judge William C. Clifton that Harrall had attended an intensive Butler Hospital program that ended Friday. She was told to follow up with a doctor and enter another outpatient counseling program. Pretrial conferences are to start May 5. Today, Bogusz's mother, Grazyna Chylinska, who sat with a friend to witness the arraignment from the courtroom’s front row, said later only that “we waited nine months” and “all we want is for the community to come together and pray” for her daughter’s recovery. -- Journal staff writer Donita Naylor and projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson She said her daughter is still in a great deal of pain. Bogusz, now 18, has been in the hospital or a rehabilitation center from June 23 to Wednesday, when she returned home for the first time in nine months. She is also recovering from surgery to close an ileostomy, an opening in her abdominal wall made to allow waste to bypass her colon. She talked in November for the first time since the accident. The honors student was unable to speak for four months and has only since January begun to walk with assistance after months of physical therapy, which is continuing. Posted by Mike McKinney Commentsangry in Cranston | March 24, 2008 3:43 PM link It never ceases to amaze me why these people plead "not guilty" to DUI/DWI charges when they have injured or killed someone. It is a despicalbe flaw in our "justice" system and only causes more pain for the victim and her family. If these people had any true remorse, they would plead guilty and not subject the victim's family to the agony of a trial or the anxiety of a plea bargain. But no, they are thinking only of themselves. It's too bad they didn't think of their potential victims before they chose to drive intoxicated. I don't care HOW many rehab progams Ms. Harrall claims to have completed, she has permanently injured this young girl and changed her life forever. She needs to assume accountability for her actions instead of pleading not guilty. I wonder how she would feel if a member of HER family was the victim of a drunk driver. The whoe thing is disgusting.
eleanor | March 24, 2008 4:11 PM link Why are we always concentrating on the negative aspects of the situation? We should be concentrating our time and efforts trying to help Sylvia overcome her obstacles.Our community needs to come together to help Sylvia put her life back together.I would like to volunteer my services as a teacher to tuitor Slyvia so she can perhaps someday continue to pursue her plans for her college education. Please send this to Sylvia so she may email me soon. Barbara Keegan | March 24, 2008 7:53 PM link butler treatment is not longterm. this woman should at least be allowed to go to a substance abuse program that has been proven to work. this teenagers life has been changed for ever. typical RI slap on the wrist when you have money anonymous | March 25, 2008 12:23 AM link We have 2 victims here. People dont wake up in the morning and say "i want to be an alcoholic when i grow up". This is a serious disease which is caused by a gene within the body. But how on earth can Ms Harell plead not guilty. I dont understand that. alex | March 25, 2008 6:25 AM link A couple of my friends have been in AA for a long time (30-40 years, but I didn't know them when they were drinking), and they always talk about the twelve steps of AA. (See http://aa.org/en_pdfs/p-55_twelvestepsillustrated.pdf) They always say that people don't get sober by blaming other people, places, and things, like saying "I never would have hit that young girl with my car if only she hadn't been such an idiot standing on the side of the road IN MY WAY. After all, look at the hundreds of OTHER times I drove drunk, and nothing happened!" No twelve steps, no sobriety. If nothing changes, nothing changes. No admission of guilt, she will go out and do the same thing over and over again, and there will always be a lawyer willing to take her money. What a pity it will cost us taxpayers so much to put her away for so many years. If only she would change. Two words: twelve steps | March 25, 2008 4:29 PM link I'm certain Mrs. Harrell feels terrible about what happened. She at this time would only be following what her lawyer is telling her to plead as all of us would do in her situation. WAYNE | March 26, 2008 9:20 AM link Why would an attorney even take a case like this. How can Mr. Mann defend her...he must know she was aware of her problem and chose to be selfish....90 mph? Absolutely undefensable!!! Lynn | March 26, 2008 10:30 AM link You people are the most dangerous threat to our nation. Condemning the accused based on an arrest only. What evidence have you seen that you are convinced she is guilty? Does an arrest and a two paragraph article in the projo satisfy you that this person should be sent directly to jail? Is it possible the police got it wrong when they made their allegation? You are advocating a society where you are not innocent until proven guilty, but rather guilty and sentenced as soon as the police arrest you. Not everyone accused is guilty. And the guilty should have only been deemed so after a fair and impartial trial and full access to due process of law. YOU people who are able to condemn others based on a news article are an absolute disgrace. James | April 5, 2008 9:22 PM link Our thoughts and prayers should go to healing the young girl who was so horribly injured in this senseless accident. It was an accident, an unintended occurance. We should also hope that justice is served in the end and if found guilty, Ms. Harrall 1) gets the help that she needs to get well and stay well 2) will apologize for this horrific happening and do whatever is in her power to help Sylvia in any way that she can. concerned | May 13, 2008 12:30 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
are you kidding me not guilty plea? What a horrific and terrifying ordeal this girl and her family have been put through. SHAME ON YOU Heidi Harrall and Attorney Robert Mann for contributing to the destruction of our society by entering a not guilty plea. Put this alcoholic in jail for life!