Returning home from a barbecue at 3 a.m.inrural Philo, Illinois, twenty-four-year-old Katie Daly skiddedonwet gravel and lost control of the all-terrain vehicle she was driving. Her nineteen-year-old cousin, Annie Daly, was thrown from the passenger seat and diedina hospital four hours later. At the time of the accident, Katie's blood alcohol level was well over the state's legal limit, and she was charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence (DUI). Given her family connection to the victim, local prosecutors agreed to a plea deal in which Katie would be spared prison, instead receiving a punishment of probation for her crime. Champaign County judge Richard Klaus rejected the plea bargain and sentenced Katie to three and half years in prison. The defense attorney appealed
the decision, and in December 2014, an Illinois appellate court agreed, ruling that Klaus had abused his discretion by putting the defendant behind bars and sentenced Katie to probation. Illinois uses an indeterminate sentencing model. Judge Klaus rejected the plea agreement. According to the text, what factor was the most important to Judge Klaus in his sentencing decision?
A. Katie's age
B. Katie's blood alcohol level
C. Katie's prior record of DUI offenses
D. That it was a deterrable crime
Answer: D
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