The Monroeville man charged in a Plum teen's death last summer pleaded guilty to charges of furnishing alcohol to minors and involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five years of probation.

Daniel M. Spicuzza, 47, of 1315 Woodland Drive, was charged with one count each of involuntary manslaughter and selling or furnishing alcohol to minors by Monroeville police in connection with the July death of Richie Shook, 18, of Plum.

Karen Shook, Richie's mother, read a victim's impact statement at the sentencing late last week and asked the judge to impose the most severe sentence the law would allow, which was five years in prison.

"That's a slap in the face," Shook said. "That's not bringing Richie back. We didn't ask for funeral expenses. We never asked for that, we never agreed to that. They made me feel like they were buying my son's life."

Richie Shook died July 19, 2007 after he collided with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Route 48 and Route 22 in Monroeville.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Richie Shook left a party at Spicuzza's house with a blood alcohol level of .231. The legal limit for driving is .08.

Spicuzza apologized during the sentencing hearing.

Karen Shook, who plans to become active in the fight against underage drinking, said she has spoken to state Sen. Sean Logan's (D-45) office about pushing a bill through the legislature that would enact tougher sentences in such cases.

"I think they (the Allegheny County District Attorney's office) did what they felt was appropriate," said Shook. "But in all fairness, I feel like I didn't fight hard enough for my son. My heart is aching because they didn't do what they were able to do. Other counties seem to give out more severe sentences."

She is videotaping a message for Plum High School students that will be played as part of a mock crash event prior to next week's prom.

Through the video Shook will talk to the students, many of whom knew Richie well, and will implore them not to make the same decisions.

"It's a little bit of Richie's fault, he made a decision, but Spicuzza provoked it," said Shook. "I want the students to see here is a parent who is suffering. I want those guys to see the suffering that Richard (Richie's father) and I are going through because of Richie and Mr. Spicuzza's decisions."

Equally important to Shook is getting the message out to adults who allow children and teens to drink alcohol.

"I raised Richie for 18 years," said Shook. "I looked forward to grandchildren and his career in the Air Force. Another adult took responsibility for my child, gave him alcohol and he died. What gave Spicuzza the right to do that? I only hope that Spicuzza learned a lesson and doesn't do this again."

Spicuzza told officers, according to the affidavit, that several people at the party were younger than 21 that night and that his policy was that if kids were drinking at his house they would have to stay the night. Spicuzza also told officers he knew Richie left the party and was driving a vehicle.

Shook said Richie's family doesn't want Spicuzza's sentence of five years of probation to give irresponsible adults the idea that they can get away with giving alcohol to teens.

At the time of his death, Richie had alcohol in his stomach that he hadn't digested and his mother believes he may have died anyway that night because there was so much alcohol in his system it could have led to alcohol poisoning.

According to the affidavit, Richie had been at a party at Spicuzza's house and Spicuzza poured Richie several shots of liquor.

During an interview with police, Spicuzza admitted to pouring Richie shots of Jagermeister and added that during the party there was a heated debate about the Iraq War that led Richie and Spicuzza to three physical altercations.

After the last fight, Richie left the house.

Spicuzza apologized during the sentencing hearing, said Shook, but he did not face the family.

"Even if he was in jail he wouldn't be suffering like us," said Shook.