Rathdrum man gets prison for vehicular manslaughter

COEUR d’ALENE — A man will spend up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to speeding and attempting an unlawful pass, causing a crash that killed his 19-year-old cousin.

Emil C. Joe, 34, of Rathdrum, pleaded guilty in February to vehicular manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

First District Judge Barry McHugh sentenced Joe on Monday to 10 years in prison with parole eligibility after two years. Joe’s driver’s license will be suspended for three years after his release.

“I don’t see your family giving you anything but grace,” McHugh said to Joe before handing down the sentence. “If this had been someone else in another family, I’m sure you can envision the type of grief and frustration that would be expressed. This is exactly what the DUI laws are supposed to prevent. There has to be some punishment and hopefully that will deter the public. I hope it deters you.”

The charges stem from the morning of July 27, 2023, when Joe was traveling southbound on Meyer Road in a van and attempted to pass a tractor that had slowed in order to make a left turn into a driveway. The van, which was reportedly moving at between 40 and 50 mph, collided with the tractor on the driver’s side.

Joe’s cousin, 19-year-old Jalen Walters, was an unsecured passenger in the van and sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

Joe told police he saw the tractor’s amber hazard lights flashing but attempted to pass anyway, according to court records. The tractor driver said he looked behind him before making the left turn, saw the van approximately 100 yards behind him and thought it was safe to turn, court records said.

Blood testing showed that Joe had a blood alcohol content of .20 at the time of the crash, more than twice the legal limit.

Prosecutors charged Joe with vehicular manslaughter in November 2023. In exchange for Joe’s guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend a 10-year sentence with parole eligibility after two years.

Before receiving his sentence, Joe apologized to his family.

“I’m hoping and praying that one day I can get their forgiveness,” he said. “There’s not a single day that I don’t think of Jalen and the whole family. This is something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life.”

McHugh said the crash was a tragedy.

“I’m sure everyone wishes we could go back in time and make this not have happened,” he said.

In October 2023, Joe was charged with excessive DUI. He pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing May 16.