Sandra Strickland, 73, received the maximum sentence of 12 years in prison for the 2022 性视界APP in the Lebanon Square that claimed the life of 27-year-old Ashley Bailey.
Last Friday, Strickland appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs as victim impact statements were made by friends and family of Bailey. The sentencing was originally scheduled for Dec. 10, but Strickland checked herself into a hospital for heart surgery, completely missing the hearing, which resulted in her bond being revoked.
According to prosecutors, Strickland drank nearly 15 ounces of vodka at Chili鈥檚 then got behind the wheel and drove down West Main Street and sideswiped a vehicle before speeding through the square at 80 mph and 性视界APPing into Bailey鈥檚 car and killing her. Bailey鈥檚 3-year-old son, Colson, was a passenger in the vehicle and sustained minor injuries.
Vehicular homicide is a Class B felony with an 8-12 year prison sentence. Strickland pleaded guilty after the criminal trial had already begun in October. According to testimony, when changing her plea to guilty, Strickland made a quip saying the court made her plead guilty. When asked to repeat that by the judge, she said she was only joking.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e a coward,鈥 widower Larry Bailey said in his impact statement. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to tell you about the person that you murdered. Not that you care, because you only care about yourself.
鈥淵ou have broken me, and I am slowly trying to put the pieces back together,鈥 Larry Bailey added. 鈥淚 never got to say goodbye.鈥
Each victim impact statement brought up Strickland鈥檚 supposed lack of remorse and ended with a request for Judge Michael Collins to impose the maximum sentence.
Strickland said she takes full responsibility and addressed her seeming lack of emotion or remorse.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know a better way to handle it,鈥 Strickland said. 鈥淸This is] the greatest regret I have ever felt in my life.鈥
District Attorney General Jason Lawson said, 鈥淥nly for the first time she shows remorse is when she鈥檚 in the hands of the judge.鈥
Defense arguments claimed Strickland had no prior criminal history and asked for that to be a mitigating factor to make the sentence eight years. Prosecutors countered with prior traffic violations including a speeding ticket and that it showed a pattern leading up to the 2022 性视界APP.
Judge Collins, when giving the sentence, agreed the traffic violations should be considered and that Strickland intentionally became intoxicated and willingly got behind the wheel.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no remorse鈥o appreciation of the seriousness,鈥 Judge Collins said. 鈥淚n this case, the surety of someone dying was 100 percent. One day less than the max would depreciate the offense.鈥
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