More than eight years given in drunken driving accident

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000 | 9:53 a.m.

A Henderson man who says he's a "really good guy" who made a terrible mistake was sentenced Tuesday to more than eight years in prison for a drunken driving accident that left a mother of two brain damaged.

Paul Haber, who had no criminal record, will be eligible for parole after three and a half years.

According to court testimony Haber got drunk after buying his fiancee a wedding ring on Dec. 8, 1998, and got behind the wheel of his car. He drove through two red lights at more than double the speed limit and struck Jocelyn Massucci's car near Green Valley and Silver Springs parkways. She was one block away from her home.

Blood tests showed Haber had a blood alcohol level of 0.18 shortly after the crash.

Haber pleaded guilty in April to driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor and causing serious bodily injury, with the understanding that he would be sentenced to between 42 and 105 months.

District Judge Lee Gates also ordered Haber to pay more than $76,000 in restitution and a $2,000 fine.

Gates sentenced Haber after watching a two-minute videotape of Massucci taken before the accident and after. He also listened to a lengthy statement from Massucci's husband, Brett. Jocelyn Massucci was unable to attend the hearing.

Massucci described his wife before the accident as a bright, caring, strong and ambitious woman who often ran four miles at a time and dreamed of becoming a corrections officer. Now she can't help her youngest child, 8, with her homework, and she doesn't remember movie plots moments after leaving the theater.

Jocelyn, who suffered head injuries and multiple back and neck fractures after being ejected from the car, was in a coma for five months and came close to death on several occasions. She didn't see her children for six months, and when they finally did visit her they were so horrified with her appearance they couldn't bear to see her for another six months, Massucci said.

His wife had to learn to walk and talk and feed herself all over again, Massucci said.

"There is nothing I can write or say that can come close to describe what you have done to Jocelyn," Massucci told Haber before being told by Gates to direct his comments to the judge.

It was one of several times Gates admonished a highly emotional Massucci not to speak directly to Haber. Gates finally cut Massucci off when he accused Haber of not being remorseful and of being more concerned with his own well-being.

A tearful Haber said he never intended to hurt anyone and he prays every night that the Massucci family returns to what it once was.

After the hearing, Haber's fiancee, Kristen Root, reiterated that Haber is incredibly remorseful for his actions that day. What happened that day was an accident and he is not like the hardened criminals who filled Gates' courtroom before the hearing, she said.

"He wants to talk to kids about what happened," Root said. "He tells everyone we know 'Look at my situation. Please, learn from my mistake.' He has a heart."