Sentencing in death emotional
September 11, 2009 - 9:00 pm
Neal Hussey put his right hand over his face and wept.
Moments earlier, he had told Judge Michael Villani that the April 2008 death of 16-year-old Donald "DJ" Jacobson was eating away at him.
"I still have a hard time believing that I am responsible for the death of one of the most awesome people I'd ever met," the 25-year-old said Thursday in District Court. "And DJ, he was great. I just hope someday he forgives me and God himself forgives me."
Hussey pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter and child abuse and neglect for giving prescription drugs to Jacobson that contributed to his death.
Authorities said Jacobson died of an accidental overdose of hydrocodone, a painkiller.
Villani sentenced Hussey to a maximum of 10 years in prison, with parole eligibility after three years and four months.
Before handing down the sentence, Villani noted that Jacobson had looked up to Hussey.
"As a mentor and an older brother you failed him miserably," the judge said.
An emotional series of speakers that included Jacobson's parents, his stepparents and a grandfather addressed the court before Hussey was sentenced. Dozens of Jacobson's family and friends packed the courtroom wearing memorial T-shirts emblazoned with photos of Jacobson.
Jacobson's family pleaded with the judge to punish Hussey with the maximum sentence, which would have been six to 16 years in prison.
Jacobson's parents described him as a loving and giving son who had dreams of becoming a firefighter or mixed-martial artist.
After the sentencing, Jacobson's mother, Karen Jacobson-Vonk, said, "I will be at the parole hearing to ask that he not get out of prison every time he comes up for parole. Me and his father and all of us."
The teen's father, Donald Jacobson, said, "I'm glad he's not going to be out for a long time to hurt anybody else's children."
He said the laws regarding prescription drugs need to be toughened because youngsters are getting them and using them "like candy."
Jacobson and Hussey met while working together at a tire store. Jacobson then began experimenting with prescription drugs, including OxyContin and Lortab, authorities said.
Hussey, who is married and has a child, had a prescription drug addiction of his own, his attorney said.
At least a month before Jacobson's death, he and Hussey were seen crushing prescription drugs and snorting them, according to court records.
Jacobson was at Hussey's house for a barbecue the night before he died, according to a Las Vegas police report.
Jacobson was found dead the next morning.
Hussey told police that he did not see Jacobson take any drugs that night, the report said.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe @reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.