Judge laments state's sentencing limits

A judge strongly lamented the limitations of state law Friday as she sentenced a man to the maximum term possible for driving into and killing a cyclist in Redmond last year.

King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector sentenced Steven Edward Riedel to 20 months in prison for causing the death of Gail Alef, 54, when the vehicle he was driving struck her while she was riding a bicycle along Willows Road on Sept. 18, 2005.

"It is incomprehensible that Alef's life ... should be worth only 15 to 20 months in the eyes of our state," said Spector, noting that the Legislature sets that maximum range for vehicular homicide.

Riedel, who pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, could be released in as little as two weeks, his attorney said.

With credit for time served, including electronic home monitoring and other factors, Riedel already has served the equivalent of 443 days in jail, said Riedel's attorney, Andrew Schwartz.

He will get credit for good behavior in jail, Schwartz said.

The judge also imposed fines and costs, and ordered Riedel to make restitution, which could involve extensive medical bills for the three weeks Alef was hospitalized before her death. Riedel also faces from 18 to 36 months of probation.

Spector described the death as a "collision of fates," in which Alef, a Bellevue dentist, mother and fitness enthusiast, came to be riding southbound with her bicycle club along Willows Road about 9:50 on a Sunday morning.

Riedel was driving northbound at the same time.

Riedel, now 59, was an office manager with no criminal history who became depressed in the winter of 2004, was diagnosed with mental illness, and began using marijuana and medication, according to court testimony.

At the time of the collision, Riedel swerved across the road, hit Alef, and came to a stop on top of her body, according to testimony. He then fled, at some point taking off his pants, before police caught him several blocks away.

Riedel admitted in his guilty plea to consuming alcohol, anti-depressants and smoking marijuana the evening before.

"I had been up all night and was tired and still drove and was having trouble controlling my car," Riedel said in his guilty plea.

"I can't say how sorry I am," Riedel told Spector when asked if he wished to address the court. "I hope the family will forgive me at some point. I just can't apologize enough."

Alef's family chose not to speak at the sentencing, but Spector noted that she had received many letters about Alef, consistently asking that her killer be shown no mercy.

"I'm not disappointed with the sentence," said her son, Chris Alef. "The judge did everything in her power."

The real tragedy is that deaths such as Alef's have become commonplace, said her former husband, Allan Alef.

"This is happening all over the place and there's no outrage about it," he said.

Peyton Whitely: 206-464-2259 or pwhitely@seattletimes.com