*** MEDIA ADVISORY***  August 28, 2008   DEATHS CAUSED AS A TEEN DOES NOT DETER STROUD FROM DRINKING AND DRIVING AGAIN  Media Contact:  Curtis T. Hill, Jr. - 296-1888  On July 23, 1996, just three days before his 18th birthday, Matthew Stroud consumed alcohol, operated a vehicle and caused a crash, taking the lives of James Bussey and his wife Mary, as well as seriously injuring two other individuals.  Mr. Stroud was convicted of Causing Death While Driving While Intoxicated, and Driving While Intoxicated Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  As a result, he was sentenced in the Elkhart Circuit Court by then Judge Gene R. Duffin, to a term of 11 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with 3 of those years to be suspended.Fast forward 11 ½ years, to January 5, 2008, where Mr. Stroud consumed vodka in the City of Goshen, and then drove toward Elkhart in poor weather conditions. Mr. Stroud was subsequently pulled over near the Elkhart Airport for suspicion of speeding, and further investigation by Sergeant Michael McHenry of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department caused Mr. Stroud to be arrested for suspicion of operating while intoxicated.Although Mr. Stroud was previously convicted of felony offenses due to the injuries and deaths caused by his actions, his recent charge was limited by state law in effect at the time of his arrest to a Class A Misdemeanor, as there were no injuries or death alleged, and because his most recent OWI arrest was outside the five-year prior period for felony enhancement.  Ironically, on July 1, 2008, an amendment to the Indiana Code took effect which would have allowed Stroud to be charged with a felony due to the severity of his prior offenses, had the law been in effect at the time of his arrest.  Deputy Prosecutor Michael Rudolph presented the State’s case to Judge David Bonfiglio of the Elkhart Superior Court No. 6, and on August 6, 2008, Judge Bonfiglio found Mr. Stroud guilty of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Class A Misdemeanor.  Mr. Stroud faces up to one year in jail at his sentencing, currently scheduled for October 1, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.The original case against Mr. Stroud was prosecuted by then Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Curtis T. Hill, Jr., currently Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney.  “It is nearly inconceivable that one could consume alcohol, drive a car, cause unspeakable carnage and disruption in the lives of so many, spend time behind bars, and then continue to drink alcohol and drive,” said Prosecuting Attorney Curtis T. Hill, Jr.                                                             * * *