Deadly Drunk Driver Given 12-Year Sentence

A U.S. Coast Guard civilian employee who was drunk when he led officers on a chase that ended with the deaths of two newspaper deliverymen was sentenced Friday to 12 years and eight months in prison.

Michael Nelson, 33, pleaded guilty Sept. 20 to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in the Dec. 28, 1997, chase. It ended in the deaths of William Hagerman, 58, of Irvine, who was killed on his 35th wedding anniversary, and Tran Van Nguyen, 52, of Westminster, who was learning a new route.

Nelson apologized at the sentencing. He also presented a 3-inch-thick stack of complimentary letters and commendations from friends, family and Coast Guard members.

But Santa Ana Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Didier said he imposed the maximum sentence because two people were killed.

Before pleading guilty last month, Nelson had been tried on two counts of second-degree murder. But on April 13, a jury deadlocked 7 to 5 on the murder charge in favor of guilt, and 11 to 1 for guilt for evading a police officer.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Tanizaki said the mistrial played a role in resorting to a plea bargain.