Original Article Ex-officer gets 5 years for crash with deputy Jim Walsh The Arizona Republic Feb. 4, 2005 12:00 AM The two law enforcement officers will never be the same. Not the sheriff's deputy, who lost part of his left leg, nor the drunken Scottsdale police officer who caused the life-altering collision. But former Officer Kevin Scott Baxter's sentence offers some hope for preventing future alcohol-related tragedies. Judge James Keppel of Maricopa County Superior Court on Thursday sentenced Baxter, 32, to five years in prison but also ordered the ex-Marine to lecture high school and college students and military personnel on the carnage caused by drunken driving. "I've seen alcohol and drugs ruin more lives than anything I can name," Keppel said. "I think if anyone can tell a story, I think you certainly can. I hope you take this opportunity to get the word out." Keppel sentenced Baxter to the least amount of prison time possible under his guilty plea to aggravated assault and leaving the scene of a serious injury accident charges. The maximum punishment was 12 years in prison. But the judge said he is convinced Baxter is remorseful, because he admitted responsibility for Deputy Doug Matteson's life-threatening injury shortly after his arrest. "I do not believe that Mr. Baxter would ever go out and do this again," Keppel said. The sentence calls for Baxter to spend 500 hours lecturing others about drunken driving and places him on probation for five years after his release from prison. Matteson, 30, who has returned to work, did not attend Baxter's sentencing. His mother, Sue, said he is recovering from his 10th surgery and did not want to face Baxter. "It's been very difficult for him to deal with this," Sue said. "He's both sad and angry." Pat McGroder, the civil attorney for Matteson, said they are pursuing a civil lawsuit against Baxter, the bars that served him the day of the accident and an insurance company. Baxter had a 0.173 percent blood alcohol content more than three hours after the May 1 collision, more than twice the 0.08 percent level at which Arizona drivers are presumed to be under the influence. Baxter's Mustang struck Matteson's motorcycle from behind at 2:15 a.m. on the Superstition Freeway in Mesa, according to court records. While Matteson struggled to avoid getting run over, Baxter, who was driving 85 mph, took off, the reports said. Sue Matteson had no comment on Baxter's sentence. Four law-enforcement officers, including two Scottsdale officers, spoke on Baxter's behalf, as did his mother. Fort Worth police Officer Jeremy Spann said he and Baxter served together in the Marines. "Please give him a minimal sentence, because he's not a criminal."