Two sentenced in separate DUI accidents

Kim Smith

Wednesday, June 20, 2001 | 10:16 a.m.

Two Las Vegas men were sentenced to prison Tuesday in connection with separate drunken driving accidents that left two people clinging to life.

Ironically, their judges used almost identical language to say the defendants were good men who made foolish mistakes.

Dorian Geba, 33, and Willie Brewer Jr., 41, both expressed remorse for their lack of judgment in getting behind the wheel of their vehicles after drinking.

Geba, a tennis pro, was sentenced to two to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to DUI in a September accident.

Brewer, a former Army major and 23-year veteran, was sentenced to five to 13 years for a May 1998 accident.

Metro Police say Las Vegas Fire Department Capt. Nathan Pechacek was driving through the intersection at Cimarron Road and Alta Drive Sept. 17 when his sport utility vehicle was hit by a 1998 Ford Expedition driven by Geba.

Blood tests showed Geba had a 0.19 blood alcohol level, almost twice the limit of 0.10, police said.

Although District Judge John McGroarty was bound by the plea agreement in terms of sentencing, he said he would have taken into consideration the 50-plus letters he received on Geba's behalf.

Geba was given until Friday to turn himself in to the authorities so he could spend time with his dying father.

Pechacek, who was critically injured in the accident, has returned to light duty with the fire department, Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said.

Down the hall moments later, District Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Brewer after hearing the emotional testimony of Brewer's victim and the victim's son.

Brewer pleaded guilty to DUI in connection with a May 1998 accident that left Edward Borgeson, 71, blind and unable to walk.

Borgeson was entering U.S. 95 from Russell Road and Brewer was driving up the on-ramp leaving the freeway when the two struck head-on.

The entire courtroom fell silent when Borgeson began to speak. He asked that his wheelchair be positioned so he could address Brewer and Mosley directly.

The formerly active property manager told Brewer they both would have been better off if he (Borgeson) had died in the accident.

Borgeson, who spent months in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, said he now has to live his life confined "blind and crippled" in his home, and Brewer will have to live with the memory of what he did to him.

Borgeson said he hopes Brewer "begs God for forgiveness and mercy because I, as a mere mortal, can't give it."

The grandfather of seven also told Brewer that if he ever even thinks about having another drink he hopes he is "damned and goes to hell."