Impaired Driver not considered a dangerous offender

A drunk driver who killed a mother and her three daughters on a northern Alberta highway in 2006 may someday get behind the wheel again.
Though Raymond Charles Yellowknee, now 35, has had repeated impulses to get behind the wheel after drinking hard, seeming not "to show regard for endangering other people's lives and obviously does not fear harming himself,"according to one correctional officer, he cannot be jailed indefinitely.
With a blood alcohol level almost three times the legal limit, he slammed head-on into another vehicle on Jan. 20, killing driver Misty Chalifoux, 28, and her three daughters Michelle Lisk, 13, Trista Chalifoux, 9, and Larissa Cahlifoux, 6.
Provincial Court Judge Ernie Walter ruled Yellowknee's offence was liable to at least 10 years impsonment as part of his repetitive, dangerous behaviour, but he used his discretion to rule out sentencing him as a dangerous offender.
"While Mr. Yellowknee is highly criminalized he is not a psychopath," Judge Walter said.
The day of the fatal accident, Yellowknee was released from Peace River Correctional Institute, made his way to his hometown of Slave Lake, and drank the day away. He stole a running pickup truck and then led police on a chase that ended when he fishtailed, veered on the shoulder and then swerved over the centre line straight in the Chalifoux family's oncoming vehicle.
Yellowknee pleaded guilty to 10 charges; in exchange for his admittance of guilt he was relieved of other charges against him.
"I apologize for all the hurt I've caused," he told court last December. "I never meant to hurt anyone that night. I never thought it would cause this much trouble."
Yellowknee told the court he has been addiction-free since January 2006. He has pledged to never drink or get behind the wheel again.
Crown prosecutor Johnathan Hak argued that Yellowknee has made those promises before to no avail.
Defence Lawyer Laurie Wood said her client doesn't have a pattern of serious personal injury offences and suggested a 14-year sentence would be appropriate as well as long-term offender status.