Talk of Waco

By frustrated

July 19, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

Must be nice to only get 2 years in prison for murder. My friend got 18 years in prison for a DWI and he didn’t kill anyone. Yea she just got a real fair sentence I would say. She doesn’t deserve to be out on the streets ever!!!! I guess if my friend would of went ahead and killed someone then he would of been out of prison by now. Boy, was he stupid for not killing anyone.

By P**

July 19, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

Ok to the person who wrote the comment above this one …you really need to shut up !! Your friend was lucky he didnt kill anyone but it just as easily could of happened to him as it did to Lacey. The sentence is harsh to what she as had to deal with losing her cousin and Best friend!! And any prison sentence isnt good!! Lacey was trying to get past what had happened she worked hard in school and was planning on going to college…so yeah thats all i have to say about that!

By bear86

July 19, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

Frustrated, since DWI is a 3rd degree felony in Texas with a 2 to 10 year punishment range, the only way your friend could have gotten 18 years was to have been convicted of a felony and sent to prison before his arrest on this case which would then be used to enhance the case to a 2nd degree felony with a 2 to 20 yr. range. In addition, the only way a DWI becomes a felony is if the arrested person has 2 prior DWI convictions. That helps explain the 18 years a little more clearly. 2 is probably not enough for killing folks and showing little remorse, but 18 is not unheard for someone with your friend’s criminal history.

By reflectiing

July 19, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this

You have a good point frustrated, your friend was given a real hard sentence but you didn’t say how many DWI’s he had previously? Two years was a very fair sentence for what happened and for Lacey not showing any change after the accident with her continuation of partying and drinking. It’s hard to believe her parents didn’t keep her home knowing that she was going to be going to court. It also sounds like a lot of her friends are angry because they are caught up in partying and drinking also. I hope this is a lesson for them as they may be the next to face a judge and jury. Change is definitely needed in West and Labor Day will show how much the town is willing to change. Be an example parents of West and refrain from the heavy drinking at West Fest this year. Maybe the Waco Tribune needs to send some reporters to West Fest this year!

By Get Real West

July 20, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

When does the cycle end in West Texas? Another trial for another murder. It doesn’t ever seem to end in West with all the accidents and drinking. If one does their research they will see that the number of accidents caused by DWI’s from West residents is much higher than any other area town or even Waco. How can anyone believe that West Fest and the number of businesses that sell alcohol in West doesn’t lead to the alarming amounts of accidents and deaths. West Fest, bars, restaurants and culture definitely add to modeling young people’s behavior and drinking habits. Go to West Fest over Labor Day and see for your self the adults on the dance floor with a drink in their hand. Be very careful when you leave!

By Teen Who lives in West

July 20, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

ok yes at Westfest there is alot of Drinkin,but that is not the reasoning for having the Fest. The whole thing started as a way to enlighten others about the Czech History! It just so happens that Beer is a main factor in the Czech History. People come from all over to come and Drink here ,and I’m sick of people saying all Westfest is ,is a drunk Fest. Its not! …Half the people you see on the dance floor with a drink in there hand ARE NOT from West!! They are Travlers!! And most of them are the ones leaving in thier cars going home to where ever they live! And as for the parents of West that do get crazy at WestFest most of the time they bring the kids out Friday Night for the preview party so their kids and ride the rides and such…then they come out Saturday and Sunday leaving the kids at home, so their kids dont see them drinking and think its alright to drink! I wish everyone could get past the fact that people come to WestFest to drink and see the culture part of it !! and Waco trib send more reporters to WestFest and dont interview the drunkass travler who knows nothing about WestFest. Find one of the people who calls West home …they are going to be the ones in the booths sweating like no other and are sober and then ask them what Westfest is really about!!

By Realist

July 20, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Don’t fool yourself, the alcohol problems aren’t in just West. Too bad society is pre-occupied with battling smokers and the tobacco industry while leaving the alochol industry alone to skate by. It’s amazing how not only has it become socially acceptable to drink, but rather socially EXPECTED

By Lisa Rieger - West, TX

July 20, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

There’s always ALOT of emphasis on alcohol……why not drugs?What about all the people out there on crack, marijuana etc…….Why is it when someone does drugs and gets in their car/truck and drives down the highway or FM road high as a kite, are never caught and made to take a drug test right there on the spot? You never hear anything about those incidents beacuse those kind of people never get caught.
Lacey is kin to me by marriage and I do feel sorry for her. All the ones out there that wanted her to do time, you all got your wish, so why don’t you all just drop it and let it go? Instead of re-hashing it over and over again, use your negative energy and pray for her and both sides of her family. Let Ashton RIP and drop all this BS. I know Ashton wouldn’t have wanted what happened to Lacey, but none of us can change what happened that night. But, we all CAN make a difference in another person’s life. The ones out there that claim she was still partying and drinking, why didn’t YOU stop her,talk to her or take her home, instead of talking ABOUT her and making it a gossip trail? It wouldn’t have hurt your image at all to have done the right thing. But, YOU all chose to turn your heads the other way. You all could have been the one to HAVE made the difference in HER life, but didn’t. It could have happened to anyone or anywhere, not just in West, TX. May God Bless Lacey and Ashton’s families and all of you out there as well.

By get real

July 20, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this

Hey teen in West! Who do you think is sweating in those beer booths? West residents selling keg after keg of beer and getting locals as well as out of town people drunk. Real sweet parents, bring the teens out on preview night and then they go back on Saturday and Sunday without the teens and get drunk so their children don’t see them. Wow this is amazing! What do the kids do at home unsupervised while the parents drink at West Fest Ms. Teen West? So let me get this straight, the people in the booths, West people are getting the out of town people drunk and sending them on their way in their cars and they come out of the booths on Saturday or Sunday and drink? Maybe West Fest is responsible for many other accidents in Texas, you think? Lisa you are right all those friends of Lacey that encouraged her to keep drinking and didn’t stop her are actually guilty too! You failed to mention the most important element in the whole situation, the parents are responsible for their sons and daughters at all times. Get real the parents need to act like parents and set a positive example! And I would love to see the Waco tribune as well as the TV stations at West Fest this year. Get real West, you are all responsible!

cars allover Texas

By Disappointed

July 21, 2008 2:16 AM | Link to this

No matter what any of you say, this is a horrible thing to happen to anyone. She will spend her time in prison, just like she was sentenced. So why is it that you are dwelling on this? Why is it that everyone is still talking about it like she was not given a punishment? This is bad enough as it is, it doesn’t have to be written about and talked about everyday. Pray for those who were effected by this tragedy and stop throwing a whole town into it. These are individual people, who incidently live in West, TX. Lacey shouldn’t have pointed a finger at the town for what happened, and people shouldn’t judge the town for individuals actions. We are all capable of making choices. They made the wrong decisions, you cannot blame the whole community for that.

By crazy jay

July 21, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

West is not the problem. People drink and have a good time everywhere. Every weekened, anywhere U.S.A., this type of activity goes on. Responsibilty is what is lacking. That aside, what troubles me about this story is the video of the scene. It just points out what a filthy, disrespectful generation this country has produced. I mean 47 f bombs to authorities investigating the scene where you have killed someone. And she was a cheerleader, a class leader. And then a short time after killing someone, she just moves on to the next party friend. Farewell Ashton, now where is next foul-mouthed party friend.

By Teen in West

July 27, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this

Get real…the ppl in the booths arent makin the travlers drink they are doin their damn selfs!! and the ppl in the booths are mostly made up of little old lady so you prolly need to shut your mouth cause i have a feeling that you do not have any idea what you are talkin bout!!!ALSO THE BEER KEGS AND STUFF ARE RUN BY THE VENDORS!!! NOT THE PPL OF WEST!! SO GET OVER YOUR SELF…ITS NOT THE PPL THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF KEEPING TRAVELERS FROM DRINKING AND DRIVING..ITS THEIR OWN!!!

By null

July 28, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

she deserves jail time!!! i hope she rots!