Ex-Teacher Resentenced to 10 Years in Drunk-Driving Crash Fatal to 2

A former teacher who killed two women in a drunk-driving freeway collision was again ordered to serve the maximum sentence Tuesday by a judge who rejected his plea for an early release so he “can contribute to society again.”

Robert Scott Carleton, 32, of Encinitas was sentenced to 10 years in prison by San Diego Superior Court Judge Jack R. Levitt for the April 14, 1984, deaths of Paige Roark, 18, and Teresa Motta, 20, both of Fallbrook.

The women were killed about 1 a.m. on Interstate 5 when Carleton’s speeding sports car rammed into the back of their vehicle, knocking it down a 25-foot embankment and into a tree.

Levitt had sentenced Carleton to 10 years and 8 months in 1986, but the 4th District Court of Appeal asked him to reconsider the length of the term.

The appellate decision said eight months was improperly added to Carleton’s sentence when Levitt considered findings that raised the seriousness of the offense but are inappropriate for such a purpose.

“Mr. Carleton knew he was under the influence of alcohol . . . and showed a callous disregard for the safety of others,” said Levitt, noting that the finding was all he needed to legally impose the 10-year maximum sentence.

Carleton, a former elementary-school teacher in Cardiff who has served nearly 2 1/2 years of his sentence, admitted drinking as many as 11 alcoholic beverages before the accident--after he had a fight with his girlfriend at dinner.

A jury convicted Carleton of two counts of felony drunk driving, two of vehicular manslaughter and one of hit-and-run for failing to stop after hitting the car. The driver, Jill Fehrenbach, then 20, suffered head injuries but recovered.

Carleton’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of 0.10 several hours after the accident, for which he again apologized in court.

‘Learned My Lesson’

“I sincerely feel in my heart that I’ve learned my lesson and then some,” Carleton said, adding that he became a Christian in prison and leads inmate Bible studies several times a week.

“I’ve had a personal impact on many of (those inmates), and I thank God for that, . . . I ask for a sentence reduction so I can contribute to society again.

“If I could save just one person’s life, wouldn’t that be worth it?”

Carleton then turned to the filled courtroom and apologized to Roark’s mother, Cindy, who heads the San Diego County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

“If there was anything I could do to bring those two girls back, I would, but I can’t. All I can do is express my sorrow . . . and hope that someday you will be able to forgive me.”

Motives Questioned

Outside the court, Cindy Roark questioned why he chose the resentencing hearing to voice remorse. “He has never once made any previous indication of sorrow or remorse, and he had plenty of time to write a letter,” she said.

Levitt also rejected defense attorney David Thompson’s argument that a 10-year sentence is more than twice as long as most other prison terms imposed statewide for similar crimes.

Carleton, who voluntarily resigned his teaching job immediately after the accident, also sold $218,000 worth of assets to pay attorneys’ fees and compensation to the victims’ families, Thompson said.