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© Plain Dealer filePainesville Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti
Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti wanted to make sure Jonathan Tarase learned a lesson about drunken driving he would never forget.

Cicconetti, who is known for his unusual sentencings, gave Tarase, 27, of Kirtland, a choice Tuesday. Serve five days in jail or perform two tasks: view the bodies of two victims of fatal accidents and take a three-day alcohol treatment course.

Tarase chose to avoid jail.

He pleaded no contest to a charge of drunken driving that was filed after an Oct. 13 accident on Orchard Drive in Concord Township. A husband and wife were injured when Tarase's car went through a stop sign and struck their vehicle. It was the victims' testimony that prompted the unique sentence.

"The woman showed me pictures of her wrecked car," Cicconetti said. "I could not believe it. They could have been killed. I asked the woman what she wanted to happen and she said she wanted me to make sure this does not happen to anyone else. I think I accomplished that."

Cicconetti sentenced Tarase to 65 days in jail and suspended 60 of them. He will not have to spend any time in jail if he completes his alcohol awareness course and views the bodies either at a hospital or the Lake County Coroner's Office.

"We're being very cautious here," Cicconetti said. "We will first get the permission of the families of the victims, explaining the reasons. This is a scared straight type sentence."

Cicconetti said he sees a lot -- too many -- drunken drivers and thought this may be a way of raising awareness of the danger.

"I have never done this with a drunk driver before," Cicconetti said. "But after hearing from the victim, I wanted to make sure that this man would never drive drunk again."

He said Tarase was remorseful and the judge believes he made his point.

Cicconetti said he knew that some people would criticize him as a publicity seeker, but he did not care. In the past, Cicconetti has sentenced people to wear demeaning signs or perform unusual acts as contrition for their crimes. A young Lake County man found guilty of disturbing the peace with loud music, was ordered to sit alone in a quiet woods for an hour.

"I'm in for five more years," he said. "Why would I need publicity? I do what I think is right. If news of this stops even one person from driving drunk, we've accomplished something."