Welcome to wacotrib!

By Donna

July 24, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

Thank you jurors! My cousin can now rest in peace and we the family can rest easier knowing justice has been served to some extent and that he will not be on the streets for a very long time.

By THANKS!!!

July 24, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

THANKS TO ALL THE JURORS!!!! I am glad that this family can sleep at night not having to worry about where he is on the streets and who his next victim will be.

By Candace Dulock

July 24, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

I am shocked and appalled at the sentence given to Mr. Church. I believe honestly that he got off to easy. Here the public is criticizing the out of the way Tokio Store that is a landmark, instead of paying more attention and sentencing harsher to the drunks in West that have been the killers of such. I know for a fact that drinking is encourged with the Czech’s and residents of West at an early age. To me the family is the blame. Old saying goes ” EDUCATION BEGINS AT HOME” Does this not apply to some ? My heart and prayers go out to the French Family in a loss, tragedy and lifelong nightmares.

By Candace Dulock

July 24, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this

I am shocked and appalled at the sentence given to Mr. Church. I believe honestly that he got off to easy. Here the public is criticizing the out of the way Tokio Store that is a landmark, instead of paying more attention and sentencing harsher to the drunks in West that have been the killers of such. I know for a fact that drinking is encourged with the Czech’s and residents of West at an early age. To me the family is the blame. Old saying goes ” EDUCATION BEGINS AT HOME” Does this not apply to some ? My heart and prayers go out to the French Family in a loss, tragedy and lifelong nightmares.

By NOT RIGHT

July 24, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

How can one person one week get two years and the next person the next week get 30…NOT RIGHT people…and for those of you who dont know…it’s not like Douglas got bailed out as soon as he got arrested like other people and got to run around freely and party while he awaited trial…NO HE CHOSE TO SIT IN JAIL AND WAIT…he already served time…and to everyone who thinks he should rot…you are all cold hearted selfish people…and you TOO will be judged one day!

By Candace Dulock

July 24, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

I am shocked and appalled at the sentence given to Mr. Church. I believe honestly that he got off to easy. Here the public is criticizing the out of the way Tokio Store that is a landmark, instead of paying more attention and sentencing harsher to the drunks in West that have been the killers of such. I know for a fact that drinking is encourged with the Czech’s and residents of West at an early age. To me the family is the blame. Old saying goes ” EDUCATION BEGINS AT HOME” Does this not apply to some ? My heart and prayers go out to the French Family in a loss, tragedy and lifelong nightmares.

By Right

July 24, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Not Right- I don’t believe the girl 2 weeks ago had the history of Doug. Did she?

Yes he did get to run around and party- between each time he got arrested! But that wasn’t enough for him to learn so now he is serving a lot more time!!

I don’t think anyone is cold hearted and selfish except for the people that wanted him to walk free so they could party with him and cause the damage to someone elses family like he did to the French family.

By Church supporters are idiots

July 24, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this

The 18 yr old girl killed a cousin that was at a party with her (who was also under-age and drunk). Church killed an innocent person trying to show off by passing his friend close to his house. 15-30 was kind of light given he is such a low-life

By NA

July 24, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this

To bad justice wasn’t served to the fullest. He deserved the full 50 years fro his actions. Where are all of who was standing up for him yesterday? Nothing to say now?

By ?????

July 24, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

So does anyone know what happened to Filer through all this? What is he doing now? Why didn’t he testify for his friend? Some friend

By Maddmom

July 24, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

He should have gotten the whole 50 years but this is better than nothing. My brother was a police officer and has told me horror stories of what happens in prison. Who knows—-Church may not live long enough for parole with the attitude he has. He was given chance after chance to change and didn’t do it. The reason he didn’t get bailed out is because the bail was too high so he didn’t choose to sit in jail and wait—-he had no choice.

By VOLLEYBALL

July 24, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this

I agree with NOT RIGHT. I think SHE should have gotten a little more then two years also. Heck she will really be out in about 6 months and then she can go back out and drink and have fun again. I don’t see any difference in what roles they both played? Unfortunately someone died in both cases. It’s a shame and I do pray for both because I do not envy them at all. God Bless the French family and children.

By NOT LONG ENOUGH!

July 24, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this

30 years is not long enough! No one has anything to say now?

By West Drunkards

July 24, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

2 down, 1000 to go…

By West Partying

July 24, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

They must all be out drinking beer and partying on such a light sentencing. Stay off the roads in West tonight.

By Fred

July 24, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

Justice? They gave the drunk, slut Cheerleader from West just eight months. The drunk, slut Cheerleader killed too. The West drunk Cheerleader should have recieved the same. An eye for an eye.

By West Partying

July 24, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

An eye for an eye? Doug should have gotten the death penalty then nstead of years on prison.

By right

July 24, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

I agree with West Partying! Death Penalty would have been the only justice for him

By Freind of Fred

July 24, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

I hope the French family will now file a civil suit against the parents and Mr. Church.

They gave life to and excuses for this Monster!! It is sad that beer took 2 Son’s from them! But not suprising.

As to the b.s. that he turned his life around, you do not kill someone when you have turned your life around….

For all of you that think he is such a great guy why don’t you drive down to Walmart and get him some “SOAP ON A ROPE”. He sure does not want to drop the soap in the shower, or he really will turn his life around!!

Good Riddings to this piece or garbage.!!

By ?????

July 24, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this

Why should he even be eligible for parole in 15? What is the purpose of giving him 30? They go in front of the judge and say they have straightened up and found god. How can they straighten up? They don’t really have a chance to do anything wrong. He can’t drink, drive, or do drugs in there, that is the best place for him!!! And the safest for everyone else. Wonder if he plans on moving back to West when he gets out, or if he is welcome back.

By So Right

July 24, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this

So right that he received 30 but not right because he deserved 50. He will be out in 15 and drinking again. Please stay away from West this Labor Day to protect your lives as both young and old will be drinking and driving in West. Maybe the next DWI will get the maximum sentence. His mother and his friend should be tried next.

By ?????

July 24, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

Why wasn’t his mom and friend tried for something? Bet they will both be at WestFest drinking- unless they are to embarrased to go out there.

By West PAaying

July 24, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

Did his mom ever get charged for tampering with evidence?

By Tamara

July 24, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this

I am all for him going to prison, but why did he get some many more years than the girl from WEST that killed her cousin while DRINKING AND DRIVING? Maybe he should have thrown in a couple more I’m sorry while he was crying, it seemed to work for her!!

By wacoresident

July 24, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this

Now it’s time to go after his mother.

By ???

July 24, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this

Are there charges pending on him mom right now for tampering with evidence at the scene?

By Crystal

July 24, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know how active the West Chief of Police is in pursuing persons under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs? I would be interested in how many tickets are written each month. Seems like the only ones dealing with the problem is DPS.

By westresident

July 24, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this

For all those people bad mouthing West you need to sit back and think for a second. Just because you have a few bad apples in a basket does not mean that the whole basket is bad!!!!!!!! A lot of good people live in West and just because two people made bad decisions you should not put a bad name on West. Just look at all the other surrounding communities just because they have not had a fatal wreck or been pulled over for drinking and driving DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT DOSENT HAPPEN. They are probably smoking dope or shooting up drugs. Westfest is made up of mostly tourists and im sure they are out on the road after drinking. Westfest is more like workfest for the Czech community, not very many people stick around and party after they go and volunteer at there local booths. All im saying is just because two people made bad decisions one night does not make the whole town bad. I agree they deserve the maximum punishment because they took innocent lives, but dont throw all of West in with those bad decisions that were made. Lord be with the Marek and French family.

By MoFo

July 24, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this

What’s really ironic here is that everyone who has submitted a post on this incident in the last week, and are drinkers themselves, have climbed behind the wheel and driven a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol at one time or another. Including any of the jurors, attorneys and court officers who drink. And anyone who posts a denial to this post is a lying piece of crap. Now lets see everybody get indignant, shocked, dismayed and disappointed in the sentence. Damned hypocrites.

By Crystal

July 24, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this

MoFo??? Has it ever occurred to you that there are people in the world who are RESPONSIBLE and do not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol? What rock have you been living under?

By Realistic

July 24, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this

Mr. West resident did it ever occur to you that the hard working Czech folks of West working at West Fest are the ones selling all that beer and making thousands of dollars from out of towners? They are also contributing to existing drinking problems and sending hundreds of dangerous drivers out onto the highways each Labor Day. If you value your Czech heritage so much then have West Fest for only West residents. A very poor excuse that all the Waco people are the visiting drunks. Count the number of drinking places in West. Count the DWI’s written by your police (VERY FEW) can’t upset the citizens and loose their jobs. When was the last time you saw a state trooper in the West area? (Never) There is a big problem in such a small town. Get Real!

By fran

July 24, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

By allowing the highly inflammatory and patently moronic comments about this tragic event, the Waco Tribune has sunk to a new low in tabloid journalism. Be forewarned - the citizens of West subscribe to this muckraking mess that used to be a respected newspaper. But they don’t have to. And they don’t have to advertise in the Trib or buy anything from those that do so.

By Watch Out

July 24, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

when is west fest? i wanna be sure to stay the heck away.

By Fran's Friend

July 25, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this

Fran, the Waco Trib, does not care about you buying a paper. As far as advertising there are not many West owned business that advertise.

As we have read you probably spend all your money on beer and meth anyways. Why in the world would you need to read anything. You can get all the news at the laundromat, on Saturdays.

Besides Book learnin and reading are way over rated.! You have managed your life pretty well without much edumacation.

By Heath

July 25, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

When a tragic event like this happens, the holier-than-thou crowd always comes out. Good to see all of you again, now crawl back under your rock and shut up.

By Nicole

July 25, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

There is not a dang thing that all this arguing and lashing out is going to solve, and there is nothing any one of you can do about it… What’s done is done, if you are so concerned, start a program in the areas that you think are sooo affected by drinking and underage drinking that reaches out to people and children.. Education is where prevention begins…However, it is a major problem in the whole nation, it is just unforntunate that West keeps getting all the attention for it. I myself grew up in Crawford, and there was nothing to do there either as a teenager, but chase a little alcohol and cigarettes… It’s just something that a lot of (not all) kids go thru. By saying that, I am not condoning it.At any rate, I have already spent more time on here that I care too, but here is a subject that might make a better conversation….hahaha!

this text will be boldedAAA reports that gas prices dropped 7 cents per gallon this week, settling in at a state average of $3.92 per gallon.

The national average is $4.02.

The lowest average in the state this past week was in Corpus Christi ($3.86), while the highest was in Austin ($3.93).

By Nicole

July 25, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this