Inmate pleads case for parole from 5-year 'road rage' sentence

Inmate pleads case for parole from 5-year 'road rage' sentence

(KSL TV, File)


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UTAH STATE PRISON — John Oliver Watkins says he remembers the entire incident.

"I never wanted this to happen to nobody. I wanted to let you know this was a mistake. This was just an accident. I had no interest in hurting nobody. I was just trying to get home, back to my family," a tearful Watkins told Utah Board of Pardons and Parole member Angela Micklos last week.

Details of the accident

On Nov. 11, 2010, Watkins, now 41, was headed west on state Route 201 when another vehicle came up behind him quickly near 5400 West. Watkins says he tapped his brakes to caution the driver not to get too close.

The driver of the other vehicle, Sandra Harper, 52, drove up beside Watkins, flashed an obscene gesture, and pulled in front of Watkins. Watkins then tried to speed up and pull in front of Harper. But their vehicles clipped.

Watkins went off the road and through a fence. Harper's vehicle rolled.

Sandra Harper was killed Nov. 11, 2011, when her SUV clipped another vehicle and rolled. Utah Highway Patrol investigators said the crash was caused by road rage, and the driver of the other vehicle, John Watkins, was sentenced to up to 5 years in prison.(Photo: KSL TV, File)
Sandra Harper was killed Nov. 11, 2011, when her SUV clipped another vehicle and rolled. Utah Highway Patrol investigators said the crash was caused by road rage, and the driver of the other vehicle, John Watkins, was sentenced to up to 5 years in prison.(Photo: KSL TV, File) (Photo: KSL TV, File)

"I did not actually see her car roll. When I went to turn around, I seen her car on top of the roof," he said. "I got out and I ran up to the ditch and says, 'Why? Why is this happening? Who were you? What's going on?'"

Watkins said his heart was racing, he was panicked, and that there were "a lot of bad things going on."

He got to the car to find Harper's adult son.

"He says, 'I have a mom in there. She's trapped,'" he recalled.

Harper was initially talking to witnesses who pulled over to help. But her condition quickly deteriorated and she died at the scene. Her son, who was 34 at the time, suffered a compressed spine and he still has migraine headaches, according to charging documents.

Watkins said he had smoked methamphetamine the night before, which investigators detected was still in his system at the time of the accident. He was eventually convicted of negligently operating a vehicle causing the death of another, a third-degree felony, and sentenced to up to five years in prison.

An appeal for parole

During his parole hearing last week, Watkins said the crash wasn't necessarily the result of road rage, as had been reported.

"I was more concerned than angry. I was angry that she pulled in front of me," he said. "But I was more concerned, what was her intention of getting in front of me?"

But he also admitted that he was frustrated at Harper for what she did. And even though he said he wasn't trying to cause her to crash, Harper was in tears as he told Micklos that he realizes today he should have made better choices.

"I'm terribly sorry for what happened to this family," he said.


I take full responsibility for the events, and now I'm receiving the help that I needed to understand to be responsible for my actions, the choices in my life.

–John Watkins, letter to Harper family


In a letter to the family, Watkins said he wrote, "I take full responsibility for the events, and now I'm receiving the help that I needed to understand to be responsible for my actions, the choices in my life. Please forgive me for the harm and pain I've caused to this family. I'm so sorry. I have never forgotten this accident."

When Micklos asked Watkins what he would do if he were to be released from prison and find himself again in a similar situation, he replied, "I'm probably just going to pull over, pull over or get off the road as soon as I can."

Micklos noted that Watkins had been a model inmate since his incarceration. He had successfully completed drug and anger management programs, as well as earned his high school diploma. Watkins said his sobriety is what he's proud of most and plans to continue once he is released.

Watkins said he doesn't even like watching movies or shows with meth and marijuana in them anymore, and commented during his parole hearing about the Emmy-award winning show "Breaking Bad."

"I thought that was the dumbest thing that could ever be made in the centuries. Why would you ever be showing that? This drug is the most powerful and the most destroying of all evil," he said.

If Watkins were to serve his entire sentence, he would be released in 2016. A letter from Harper's son encouraged the board of pardons to make Watkins serve his full sentence.

But Micklos said current sentencing guidelines, which are not mandatory for the board to follow, point to Watkins being placed on parole now. Based on his minor prior criminal history and how well Watkins has been doing since being incarcerated, she said she would recommend his release by the end of the year.

The full five-member board will now vote on whether to release Watkins.

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