Judge Rejects Plea Agreement for Fatal Hit-And-Run

An Anchorage Superior Court Judge rejects a plea agreement for Ashley Bashore, 20, who is charged for a fatal hit-and-run incident that would have initially put her behind bars for one year.

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by Whitney LB Miller

Story Created: Oct 19, 2012 at 9:53 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 20, 2012 at 2:31 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - An Anchorage Superior Court Judge rejects a plea agreement for Ashley Bashore, 20, who is charged for a fatal hit-and-run incident that would have initially put her behind bars for one year.
   
In her only statement Friday (10/19) afternoon Bashore said, "I'm really sorry about every thing that has happened."

According to court documents Bashore was allegedly texting while driving on Easter Sunday, last year, before striking and killing Hubert Tunuchuk. Reports say Tunuchuk was walking along Tudor Road near the New Seward Highway overpass and was in town visitng friends from Seward for the weekend.

In Bashore's sentencing hearing Friday (10/19) Superior Court Judge Jack Smith said he was not convinced the plea deal was strong enough for Bashore's actions.  "It still means that somebody died and somebody didn't stop after hitting them and I have a problem with that," he said.

He expressed remorse to the families for not being able to finalize the case and said his goal is to seek justice.

If Judge Smith accepted Bashore's plea deal she would have been sentenced to serve 1 year in jail followed by 6 years probation. Bashore would have also been banned from using a cell phone capable of texting.

**The title for Nancy Bidwill in the video is incorrect. She is the Founder of the Forget-Me-Not Mission**

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Tim Whitehead said on Saturday, Oct 20 at 4:12 PM

Now THAT'S a good judge!!! Too often, in the interests of clearing the docket, judges too often let the guilty plead down to a point where the punishment is laughable. Case in point: this one. How in blazes are they (they P.O.'s, et al.) going to know whether or not she's using a cell phone capable of texting or not 24/7? Impossible!!! PLUS there's the "justice" aspect to think of. Does the victim's family feel that the deal does justice for what has happened? Not in this case. Go, Judge!

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