Fowler case sentence

By Amanda Ward

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - A decision has finally been reached in the vehicular homicide case against Chris Fowler who struck and killed Ariel Thigpen on a Moss Bluff country road back in April 2006.

The decision was made a little easier for Judge Kent Savoie after the state and prosecution arrived at a plea agreement in which Chris Fowler entered a *guilty* plea of negligent homicide.

It resulted in a reduced charge with a reduced sentence.

The family of Ariel Thigpen left the courtroom in tears.

Ariel's mother, Sandy Arredondo: "I've already lost my daughter and I don't think I could lose anything worse."

There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Christopher Fowler hit and killed 15 year old Ariel Thigpen just before eight o'clock at night on April 17th, 2006.

But that's not what the state was trying to prove.

They did however intend to prove that Fowler did not take invasive action. That he was impaired by drugs in his system and that impairment is what caused him to kill Ariel.

In closing the prosecution insisted it was not yet dark. That Fowler saw the girls walking and had plenty of time to avoid hitting them but couldn't due to the drugs altering his motor skills.

The defense repeated attempts to blame the victim for walking on the wrong side of the road and claimed the state had false testimony that was based on lies and insisted that Fowler could not be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge left the room for about an hour and met with both sides as everyone left waiting knew something was happening.

It turns out Chris Fowler made a plea agreement, pleading guilty to negligent homicide.

Which doesn't mean he believes he's guilty but that he thinks it's a better chance at a lighter sentence.

Both parties agreed Fowler would serve 5 years supervised probation, attend weekly NA meetings, submit to random drug screenings and pass them and serve six months in jail.

But the sentence is spread over weekends which means about 90 weekends in all.

Fowler will also pay fines and court costs.

If Fowler meets these terms, he'll be acquitted after five years making his record show that he was actually found not guilty.

If he doesn't meet the requirements, or if he gets another felony charge he'll be considered a repeat offender and face harsher sentences.

This case brings about questions. Like what is the law when it comes to impaired driving due to drugs?

In Louisiana the law against drunk driving is very concrete.

But the questions surrounding drugged driving is something Ariel's mom hopes to clear up.

Sandy Arredondo: "In Louisiana, more and more kids are going to Houston and getting RX Xanax, smoking marijuana, and driving. And why not? I mean look at what he got away with. I think he got away very easy."

No word on where he'll serve that sentence nor how much those fines and court costs will add up to be.