ROCK HILL, S.C. (WACH / AP) – A Rock Hill judge has included passages from the Bible as part of a drunk driving sentence. In addition to eight years in prison, Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles has sentenced Cassandra Tolley, 28, of Rock Hill, to read the Old Testament Book of Job and write a summary on it.
The sentence comes after Tolley hit a vehicle while driving in the wrong lane last November. The accident seriously injured two men in the other car. Tolley’s blood alcohol content was .333 – more than four times the legal limit.
Tolley’s attorney said Tolley is grateful for the Bible reading assignment and has begun work on it.
University of South Carolina law professor Kenneth Gaines says although the sentence is rare, the judge did not necessarily overstep his authority. As long as the defendant consents to the sentence, there is no issue.
The AP and The Herald of Rock Hill contributed to this story.
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