Wolfe

A former Altoona man who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for a DUI crash that killed three Cambria County residents is questioning the length of his sentence that was initially imposed by retired Judge Norman D. Callan.

James Wolfe, now 51, has been serving time behind bars for an accident that occurred along Route 36 in Logan Township on Nov. 17, 1998.

He was driving a truck at the time, and his vehicle crossed the center line of the road and struck an oncoming vehicle that included Franco Delgande, 18, Ryan O’Neil, 22, and Leonard McConnell, 21, all of whom died as a result of the crash.

Two other passengers in the car were seriously injured.

A jury found Wolfe guilty of multiple charges that included aggravated assault by vehicle, three counts of homicide by vehicle, three counts of homicide by vehicle while under the influence, and driving under the influence.

The judge sentenced Wolfe to a minimum prison term of 12 years and 11 months to a maximum of 42 years.

Wolfe contended in his federal petition last week that he has completed his minimum sentence, but now states that his maximum sentence range has been extended to 45 years and five months.

He indicated in his petition that his release date is now April 3, 2046.

“I’m unsure why my sentence is going up in duration,” he stated.

He speculated that time was added due to a prior offense in which his minimum had also expired, and that his remaining time on that prior charge was added to his maximum sentence on the fatal crash.

He questions the constitutionality of his sentence if this is what happened.

Wolfe said he is seeking release from prison.

The Wolfe petition has been referred to Magistrate J. Peter Ormsby in Pittsburgh for review.

He is presently incarcerated in the State Correctional in Huntingdon.

Wolfe has filed multiple petitions over the years and has also sought parole many times.

In an opinion issued last year during the dismissal of one of Wolfe’s petitions, U.S. District Judge Robert Mariani of Scranton stated the parole board has denied his release on several occasions, stating that Wolfe needs to complete additional programs.

The judge also pointed out Wolfe has had many misconducts in prison, and reported the parole board took into consideration Wolfe’s risk to the community, his failure to demonstrate motivation for success, his minimization of the nature and circumstances of his offenses and his lack of remorse.