Judge reduces sentence for convicted drunken driver who killed 2 teens

KENT --  A King County District Court judge knocked two years off the 8 1/2-year prison sentence of Alexander Peder, a drunken driver who killed Federal Way teens Derek King and Nick Hodgins in June 2010.

Senior deputy prosecutor Amy Freidheim said it's because of a technicality having to do with a prior Peder DUI that was deferred to a negligent driving charge.  At the time of Peder's sentencing in April 2011, that deferred charge was included as an enhancement to Peder's prison time.  After the fact, the state Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that violated state law and Peder and his attorney appealed the sentencing enhancement.

In 2013, the Legislature closed that loophole, clarifying that any deferred DUI charge must be included in a defendant's criminal history but that does not apply to Peder's case.

Hear from the victim's families about this decision on Q13 FOX News at 4:00 and 5:00.