A drunken driver who rolled a car killing his passenger has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with three years of mandatory parole.

Rupert Chee, 36, of Durango, appeared remorseful for the crash and the loss of life.

“I shouldn’t have picked him up; I was supposed to help him get a job and instead I put all this hurt on you,” he said in addressing friends and family members of the victim, Shaun Tso Begay, 35, during Thursday’s sentencing hearing.

Begay’s friends and family shook their heads as Chee asked for their eventual forgiveness.

According to an arrest affidavit filed in the 6th Judicial District Court, the crash occurred about 4 a.m. Oct. 17. Chee and Begay had shared a fifth of vodka and Chee admitted to consuming marijuana the previous evening.

An inebriated Chee drove a white Chevrolet Silverado south in the 1100 block of South Camino del Rio near the “High Bridge,” with Begay in the passenger seat. The affidavit says the vehicle drifted off the right side of the road, collided with a guardrail and rolled down an embankment toward the Animas River.

Chee left the scene, walking less than a mile to Dunkin’ where he had a shift. A co-worker drove him to Mercy Hospital, where he had a 0.244 blood alcohol content, three times the legal limit.

At no point did Chee notify law enforcement of the incident.

When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they found the body of a deceased man 8 to 10 feet from the crashed vehicle. The affidavit says Begay’s injuries were consistent with a violent vehicle crash.

When Durango Police Department Detective Chris Winchester informed Chee that Begay had been killed in the crash, Chee reportedly grew emotional and said he did not remember Begay being in the vehicle.

On April 17, Chee pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide DUI, a class three felony.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, his defense lawyer asked District Judge Nathaniel Baca to impose a four-year prison term, citing the apparent progress Chee had made toward addressing his alcohol addiction while staying at the La Plata County Jail.

Vance Davis, the prosecutor, cited Chee’s previous criminal record – including three DUI convictions and two pending DUI cases, as evidence of Chee’s negligence in addressing his addiction.

During the sentencing, Davis read from letters submitted by friends and family members of Begay, expressing the loss and anger they felt.

“Mr. Chee is a threat to the public and himself,” one letter read.

Jeremy Henderson, a close friend of Begay’s, shed tears as he recounted memories with Begay.

“You sentenced us to a life of pain and suffering,” Henderson said. “We’re only asking for 10 years.”

When Judge Baca announced the 10 year sentence, family and friends let out sighs and audible cries. Chee sank his head.

“Your daughters will see you again Mr. Chee,” Baca said. “But (Shaun Begay’s mother) will never get to see Shaun again.”

Chee is being held at the La Plata County Jail awaiting to be transferred to a state prison.

lveress@durangoherald.com