San Diego California DUI attorneys learned today that the man convicted in a crash that killed a Bakersfield boy received a 17-year prison sentence Tuesday morning.

Gordon Tutton, 62, got the maximum sentence for the California DUI drunk driving death of 13-year-old Brock Bellue in August, 2007.

Tutton maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and said a female friend was really behind the wheel.

"I'm innocent, you know?" Tutton said. "She told them she was driving. You tell me that ain't even a shadow of a doubt?"

Tutton said 22-year-old Shalle Cole was actually driving when his truck crashed into the SUV carrying Bellue, his mother and Bellue's best friend.

Tutton says Cole told her family she was driving, but refused to testify at his trial.

"I pulled over to let her drive 'cause my chest was hurting," Tutton said. "She got away with murder, but I'm not mad at her."

Tutton has a rap sheet dating back to 1961, mostly drug-related charges involving heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. Over the last four decades he has served approximately 18 years behind bars for his drug-related crimes and was on probation as a part of the state's drug diversion program.

But in August 2006, after pleading guilty to heroin charges, Tutton asked for and received probation under Prop. 36.

He was rearrested just eight months later in Shafter on another drug possession charge and once again Tutton received probation under Prop. 36. Two months later he was involved in the fatal Lerdo Highway crash.


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