Feb. 9, 2021 8;25p
(WGTD)---The 21-year-old Twin Lakes man who'd been drag racing when he struck another vehicle on Highway 50 last summer, killing a 14-year-old boy, received an eight-year prison sentence Wednesday.
Coupled with a four-year period of extended supervision, Anthony Lagowski's sentence on a charge of Second Degree Reckless Homicide still fell short of the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. A sentence on a count of Second Degree Reckless Injury was withheld, meaning it could later be imposed if Lagowski commits another crime. Lagowski had pleaded guilty to the charges.
The family of 14-year-old Dominic Boll-Flaig wasn't happy.
Judge Bruce Schroeder told them before passing the sentence that they wouldn't be. "If I could bring your son back--your brother back by giving this man (Lagowski) the maximum penalty or even if I could, a life sentence, I would do it," Schroeder said. "But I can't and I won't."
A primary purpose of sentences is to "reduce future lawlessness," Schroeder said, not to extract vengeance.
Lagowski had been out joyriding with his girlfriend when he and another driver started racing on Highway 50 west of Paddock Lake last summer. As Dominic's older brother Tyler was trying to turn left on a yellow light at County 'B', Lagowski's Volkswagen plowed into the Boll-Flaig Toyota Corolla at a speed estimated by the sheriff's department to be 107 mph. The crash, which was caught by a security camera video, split the Toyota in half.
Dominic was pronounced dead at the scene. Tyler has since recovered from his injuries.
Several tearful members of the victims' families who spoke at the sentencing hearing asked for stiff punishment.
Lagowski, who has no prior criminal record, read a short statement apologizing to the family.
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