KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- A former LaPlata, Mo., woman sentenced in Adair County Circuit Court, in connection with the death of a LaPlata man nearly four years ago, avoids jail time.
Carri Partin, 40, had entered an Alford guilty plea to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter, for her part in the death of Jason List, 33, in a traffic crash over Memorial Day weekend in 2006.
Partin was originally charged with second-degree murder in the case.
Circuit Judge Russell Steele sentenced Partin to nine years in prison, with suspended execution of sentence.
She was then placed on five years probation, with several special conditions, including 200 hours of community service, no alcohol consumption, and she is subject to random alcohol testing. Those are a few of the special conditions.
The crash happened when the vehicle Partin was driving went off Highway 63, near Millard, Mo. Partin's blood alcohol content was .188 three hours after the crash at University Hospital in Columbia.
The vehicle flipped over several times, and List was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
List's sister Virginia Williams spoke at the sentencing on the family's behalf. She spoke directly to Partin several times during the impact statement, "Carrie, your stupid decision caused this family so much," said Williams. "There are no winners here, everybody loses."
Adair County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Williams asked for the maximum 15 year sentence. He said that would send a stronger message to rural residents.
Partin’s attorney Andrew Farwell said Partin has gone through a lot over the past four years and none of the delays were their doing.
Circuit Judge Russell Steele said he has spent a lot of time thinking about this case. He said he knows the decision won't make everyone happy but he will have zero tolerance for Partin if she violates the terms of her probation.
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