KGW reports that James Millican, who ran down and then drove with Jason Rehnberg on his hood after Rehnberg (who was on his bike) told him to slow down, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail.
Along with jail, the 21-year-old Millican must do 160 hours of community service, pay Rehnberg $800 for lost wages, and be on probation for three years. Millican was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, DUI, and attempted assault (second degree).
in jail, probation and community
service.
According to KGW, Millican told the judge this morning that he had been drinking (he had a .11 blood-alcohol level) and that “he snapped” when Rehnberg called him a name.
“I was on a short fuse. Him calling me an [expletive] broke the camel’s back.”
KGW reports that Rehberg also admits he “could have acted differently”:
“When you’re out there on a bike, you’re vulnerable. It’s hard not to react.”
Read the full story at KGW.com.
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Justice is served! Nice to hear that both participants admit their mistakes in escalating the matter.
Was this not attempted murder? Come on.
But yet, he still gets to keep his license?
I really wish the drunk driver could have gotten his license privileges revoked for a year, if only so he could become a cyclist himself and know what his victim has to put up with day in and day out.
Justice is served?!? Are you kidding me? If this hadn’t been caught on camera it probably would have been even less of a sentence.
We need to start taking vehicular assault seriously. The perp needs to lose his license, and serve real time, as well as be vulnerable to civil suits arising from the incidents. At least these are felony charges, though calling it attempted assault is absurd.
Justice served. You really think this is fair?!?! Or Just?
This guy deserves much more. This is the weak justice that makes the roads so dangerous for all users.
Justice my hairy ass!
Am I the only one that is shocked and dismayed at this complete failure of the justice system? What the hell? This guy has proven that he is incapable of handling a motor vehicle in a responsible fashion and should not be allowed behind a wheel for many years. It is frightening that vehicular assault = a mere 45 days of incarceration.
Be careful out there people.
wait, so i can go get drunk, get in my car, drive around, get mad and take someone for a ride on the hood of my car for only 45 days in jail?
lady justice is a whore!
Yeesh.
Let’s imagine this as an assault with a weapon that’s equally dangerous. That would be what, a baseball bat? Gun? Artillery round? Whatever, what would be the sentence then?
We really have the craziest blind spot when it comes to cars as weapons. Because the vast majority of us drive them, most of us feel like we need them, and we loooove that powerful feeling they give us.
This guy should never be allowed to drive, ever again.
I know a (at the time) 15 year old boy who went into a store with his b.b gun to rob it. He spent 5 1/2 years in jail due to the measure 11 law. I don’t think I need to spell out the rest of my point.
In truly bike friendly societies, y’know where I mean….DUI gets a one year revocation on first offense. Second offense, and / or assaulting cyclist with a car gets a lifetime ban.
Just sayin’…
Nice to see platinum Portland is protecting it’s cyclists.
I’m going to buy a gun and get a concealed weapons permit. .45 auto should about do it, with armor piercing bullets to penetrate the front windshield.
Bicyclists for Justice, anyone?
Assault with a deadly weapon? It seems that he did more than attempt to assault Rehnberg.
When and if motor vehicle operators are ever held truly responsible for their actions THEN it will be safer to be a cyclist.
Did Brett Jarolimek and Tracey Sparling die without the society learning a lesson????
The driver will be sued into the ground and no decent employer will hire him in the future.
Driving while intoxicated should not be tolerated. A car is a deadly weapon. No question about it.
So if Millican had been in possession of a firearm at the time he “snapped” what would have become of Rehnberg?
Assault with an automotive is assault with a deadly weapon. What was his intent in ramming Rehnberg? Was he trying to hurt Rehnberg? Kill him?
His sentence was lenient.
“unlawful use of a weapon”
Finally they see cars for what they truly are, yet he walks away still holding his license.
No way! 45 days for trying to kill a guy with his car?!?! Is there more to this story that’s missing? Why so lenient? And how was this caught on tape? Where I used to live, if you blow .08 your license is revoked. Blowing .11 with a cyclist on your hood ought to get you revocation and attempted murder plus some sort of community jackass award. I bet if Millican was walking and I intentionally plowed him with my xtracycle, I’d get more than 45 days, especially if I was drinking. I don’t know what name Rehberg called this moron but my guess is, it was totally appropriate. What an a$%&@!e.
as I recall the DMV can adminstratively revoke his liscence if they feel he is a threat to others- maybe we should all send an ltter to the DMV about how we feel that someone who has assault bicyclist driving around?
His license is suspended for year as a result of the DUII conviction.
Ron, #12, ditto, fo’ shure! Judge needs another sentencing option: three-year ban from operating a motor vehicle, for the duration of probation.
Duncan, #20, ya got that petition goin?
I’m pretty sure conviction of a DUI results in a 1 year suspension of your license (at least, that’s according to the DMV).
What’s all this about driver accountability–if drivers were held accountable for their actions, this just wouldn’t be America anymore!
I couldn’t help but notice in the video where the driver slammed on the brakes at the intersection deliberately trying to eject Jason into the busy cross-traffic IN ORDER TO KILL HIM. 45 days seems pretty light for that.
…unlawful use of a weapon, DUI, and attempted assault (second degree).
Attempted assault? Did I miss something? Did he try to hit him with his car but missed because he was too drunk?
All that and only 45 days of time?
What would have happened if he had done all that but not been behind the wheel? The penalty probably would have been worse!
Who do we call?
Who do we contact?
What are our next steps?
He still keeps his license?
Are you kidding?