Home detention for man who strapped kids on car

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) -- A Fort Wayne man was sentenced Friday to 18 months on home detention for driving drunk with his three young children and another girl strapped to the hood of his car.

Aaron Stefanski, 29, told Allen Superior Judge Wendy Davis he regretted putting his three children, ages 4 to 6 and a neighbor's 7-year-old daughter on the hood of the car, The Journal Gazette reported.

"I let alcohol make the decision for me," he said.

Police arrested Stefanski and the neighbor, Jessica Clark, after the manager of a liquor store called 911 when he saw Stefanski use a tow strap to secure the four children to the hood and drive away.

Stefanski pleaded guilty last month to three counts of neglect of a dependent and one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. In return for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped four misdemeanor charges of criminal recklessness, four child restraint infractions and an infraction for driving without insurance.

Stefanski's attorney, David Zent, and his ex-wife asked Davis for leniency. Zent said Stefanski lacks a criminal history except for a misdemeanor conviction for carrying a handgun without a license. He said his client took responsibility for his actions early on, addressing his alcoholism and taking parenting classes.

Stefanski's ex-wife told the court that he has been an excellent father, with the exception of this incident, and said he is beginning to put his life back together.

Allen County Prosecutor Tasha Lee told the judge that Stefanski was drunk when he picked up the children, then went to the liquor store to buy more alcohol. She said his actions had extraordinary potential for injury.

Davis said she found the facts of the case "incredibly aggravating" and reminded Stefanski of his duty to protect his children.

"They would have done anything you asked," Davis said.

Clark, 30, pleaded guilty in July to neglect of a dependent and will be sentenced Monday.
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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net