A Catholic priest who drove his truck into a crowded Smithville restaurant in 2007 has been convicted of drunk driving, but he escaped jail time.
>Father Karel Fink, 62, was sentenced to 180 days in the Bastrop County Jail, but County Court-at-Law Judge Benton Eskew probated that time for two years, pursuant to terms of a plea bargain agreed to by Fink and Bastrop County District Attorney Bryan Goertz.
"This was about as bad a misdemeanor DWI as I can imagine," Goertz said. "I feel very comfortable with the terms of the plea."
In addition to the two years of probation, Fink must pay $29,042.10 in restitution and a $1,500 fine; take courses in DWI education and danger without intention; perform 24 hours community service; attend in-patient treatment and follow-up care for alcoholism; attend regular AA meetings; and take antabuse daily. Antabuse is a drug that will make people who take it ill if they drink alcohol.
Goertz said Fink attended in-patient treatment for alcoholism shortly after the incident.
"Mr. Fink is a 62-year-old individual who in his past history seemingly had a problem with alcohol, although this would be the first alcohol-related offense that I'm aware of," he said. "With no prior criminal history, what you hope is that the criminal justice system can put a person on the right track to where society is safe from this every happening at his hands again."
On June 18, 2007, Fink drove his pickup into the crowded La Cabana restaurant in Smithville. Officials said his blood alcohol level was at least twice the legal limit.
At least 10 people were injured, including Donald Jerrels and his wife, Marcia, who attended Fink's hearing Thursday.
"I don't think he got enough time for what he done," Fink said. "He caused too much injury."
A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese in Austin said Fink has been reassigned from the church in Smithville he pastored at the time of the wreck, to a church in Killeen.
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