Lubbock Woman Convicted of Failure to Stop and Render Aid Gets Probation

         The former Lubbock realtor convicted of failure to stop and render aid in a fatal car crash gets probation, not prison time.  On Wednesday, a Lubbock jury found 67-year-old Callie Long guilty of failing to stop and help a bicyclist after she hit him with her car.  Late Thursday evening, that same jury decided her punishment for the crime.

             Defense attorney Dan Hurley says he and his client 67-year-old Callie Long breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday when they heard the jury say she would not have to go to jail. 

       Long faced anything from probation to 5 years in prison for the crime of failing to stop and help 28-year-old Brett Walrath after she hit him with her car along the South Loop on August 27th, 2003.  He later died from his injuries.

The prosecution argued she deserved the maximum punishment because Walrath's life was worth more than probation, but Hurley argued the jurors should show mercy for a remorseful woman who had a clean criminal past up to 2003.  The jury and judge decided on 5 years probation, but if long violates that probation, she will have to serve up to 6 months in the county jail. Hurley says, "It's a terrible tragedy that devestated two families and now after speaking to a juror he indicated it would be a part of their lives from now on." 

       The jury proved just how invested they were in this case when many of them returned to the courtroom after they were dismissed to hear what Walrath's widow had to say to Long.  Court employees say jurors rarely do that, but Hurley says it was a victim impact statement worth hearing.  He says, "She told Callie that she has forgiven her ... she won't forget, but she has forgiven ... and if Lakeisha can forgive her maybe it's time to end all this."  But, that's most likely not going to happen.  Special Prosecutor Rod Hobson who is handling the case tells us he does plan on trying Long on charges of DWI and Intoxicated Manslaughter at a later time.