This petition is for Jeri Dawn Montgomery. She comes from a wonderful Christian family. Her sentence is a political move by the DA and Asst DA of Houston. Jeri is a lovely & loving young woman. Her small vehicle was rear ended... by a large F250 with a cattle guard bumper, she was then hurled into the deceased's vehicle who was not wearing a seat belt. Our entire family feels very badly that anyone lost life in this accident. But the word here is ACCIDENT. So many of the facts were left out & the jury was never privy to those facts. How can this sort of thing happen in America? I would not have believed had I not been there & saw it for myself. Now we have what is called precedence- which means we all could face murder charges for distracted driving whether it is cell phone, food, radio etc. Jeri was convicted of negligent homicide & using her car as a weapon.
Do you really think the drafters of the statute that defines "Criminal Negligent Homicide" ever intended that it be applied in this fashion? I don't think so. Further, why did the State fight so hard to keep evidence out that would have helped the jury understand that Jeri may not have been the sole cause of this accident? Texas "Criminal Negligence" is defined as:
"A person acts with criminal negligence, or is criminally negligent,
with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct, or the result of
his conduct when he ought to be aware of substantial and unjustified
risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk
must be of such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it
Constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that the
Ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed
From the actor's standpoint.
"As viewed from the actor's standpoint" That was the part that the jury apparently ignored. The State drove them focus almost exclusively on the terrible result and the poor family. The State offers plea bargains to the worst in our society but could find no mercy here. They instead chose a long expensive trial and apparently encouraged the media to cover the incident.
Will you please sign the petition & ask ur friends to read the facts & do so also. This was not justice. Thank you. Jeri Montgomery's/Elledge Family.
