The mother of 18-year-old Bobby Gouveia, who was killed in a high-speed, racing crash four years ago, sobbed outside a courtroom after a judge failed to find the drunken driver of the car Gouveia was riding in guilty of manslaughter.

“;This system sucks big time because this is my son,”; said Johanna Ramos, clutching her son's framed photograph. “;I raised him for 18 years and makes like it didn't mean nothing. You can speed and drink and go 100 miles.”;

“;I really want him to serve 18 years of my son's life,”; she said.

In a nonjury trial, Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario found Keanan Tantog, guilty of first-degree negligent homicide and first-degree negligent injury when he crossed the center line and sheared a Civil Defense siren pole on Farrington Highway. Gouveia, a front-seat passenger in his car, died at the scene, and another passenger, Alexander Kinney, received serious injuries.

  Tantog sentenced in drunk driving case

 

Keanan Tantog was found guilty of negligent homicide in a fatal drunk driving incident.

 

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But the judge said the state had not proven recklessness beyond a reasonable doubt, and thus did not prove Tantog, now 21, was guilty of manslaughter.

Tantog, who was 18 at the time of the crash, could have served a maximum 20 years in prison if he had been convicted of manslaughter. But he still faces a maximum 15 years' imprisonment and is scheduled to be sentenced 11 a.m. July 14.

Del Rosario noted these were close friends in a small community, teenagers out partying and cruising and most were drinking. He said they were playing a game—leapfrogging with their cars, slowing down, passing, then speeding up.

“;We respect the judge's decision completely, but I don't see how anyone in this community can think that driving drunk, speeding 100 mph, speeding fast enough to cut a Civil Defense pole in half with your car and racing with your friends doesn't constitute a reckless disregard for the lives of people in this community,”; deputy Prosecutor Kory Young said.

Tantog's mother-in-law, Cathy Hookala, said: “;We are very sorry for the loss of a friend, a good friend, Bobby. Our prayers go out to his family as they begin to heal now that closure can begin.

“;My son-in-law has made a huge turnaround in his life and unfortunately a friend's life was lost because of it.”;

Tantog and his attorney declined comment.