Prison for DUI crash

Michael William Church to serve time behind bars and probation due to crash that injured his son

A judge determined state prison time is warranted for a Telford man who drove drunk and severely injured his 5-year-old son during a one-vehicle crash, adding the man was lucky he didn’t kill the boy.

“I don’t think there’s anything mitigating about this case,” Montgomery County Judge Todd D. Eisenberg said on Wednesday as he sentenced Michael William Church to 15 to 30 months in state prison in connection with the 7:45 p.m. July 14, 2016, crash along Ridge Road in Salford Township.

“Do you know how lucky you are that you didn’t

kill your child? He’s going to live with that day for the rest of his life,” Eisenberg addressed Church.

Church, 36, of the 700 block of Morwood Road, also must complete 10 years’ probation following parole. Church pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault by a vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the crash.

Church had hoped for a county jail term with work release and was not happy about the sentence.

“I think it was unfair and unjust as a father is being taken away from his kids,” Church, a father of two, said as he was escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs by sheriff’s deputies.

Prosecutors said Church’s blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.152 percent, nearly double the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Police said Church was northbound in the first block of Ridge Road in a Chevrolet Cheyenne when he struck a pole on the right side of the road, crashed through a fence and into a yard, coming to rest at the edge of an in-ground pool of a home.

The child was a passenger in the vehicle and was not restrained by a seat belt and not in a car seat at the time of the crash, police alleged. Testimony revealed the boy suffered blunt force head trauma and was transported by medical helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment of injuries to his head, face shoulders and chest.

The child required 150 stitches to his face and has had to undergo occupational and speech therapies as a result of the injuries, testimony revealed.

The boy’s mother, who previously had an 8-year relationship with Church, testified July 14 “was the scariest day of my life” when she learned that her son had been injured.

Assistant District Attorney Erika Wevodau argued for a state prison sentence against Church, calling his blood-alcohol level “astronomical.”

“This accident was severe. The child was in a car without a car seat at the age of 5. The string of bad decisions is appalling,” Wevodau argued, adding the victim has scars on his forehead and chest. “These scars he’s going to have to face in the mirror every day of his life.”

While the vehicle apparently dangled over the edge of the pool, Wevodau said luckily the vehicle didn’t go into the pool, arguing someone with a blood-alcohol level of 0.152 percent might not have been able to save the child.

State police Trooper Isaiah Slonaker testified when he arrived at the scene of the crash Church “was very incoherent and had bloodshot eyes.” Court documents indicate authorities also found Church possessing a small amount of marijuana.

Defense lawyer Amina Daniels argued for a county jail term with work release for Church so he could continue to support his two children.

“The whole situation is extremely horrific. But I don’t think an extended period of jail is going to be effective,” said Daniels, adding Church has turned his life around and immediately sought inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment after the crash. “He’s very remorseful for this whole situation.”

The mother of Church’s second child and another woman, his current girlfriend, pleaded for leniency on behalf of Church, saying they saw “a positive change in him” since the crash, that he’s been living sober and that he’s a hard worker.

Church apologized for his conduct.

“I never thought I was going to be that father to let an addiction rule my life. For me to allow this to happen to my son is atrocious,” Church addressed the judge. “It was definitely a wake-up call. I’m extremely regretful.”

“This accident was severe. The string of bad decisions is appalling.” — Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Erika Wevodau

“Do you know how lucky you are that you didn’t kill your child?” — Montgomery County Judge Todd D. Eisenberg to DUI crash driver