Orlando Woman Sentenced To Two Years In Prison In Vehicular Homicide Case
According to a report from WPTV, Jamie Padgett, a now 22-year-old woman from Orlando, has been sentenced to two years in prison as part of a vehicular homicide case in Florida. The crash occurred in 2022. Here, our Orlando DUI manslaughter defense lawyer discusses the allegations and charges brought in this case.
Deadly DUI Crash Near Lake Worth, FL in 2022
In 2022, Jamie Padgett was driving her Audi headed east just outside of Lake Worth, Florida. According to prosecutors, her vehicle drifted across the center line and struck an oncoming Ford Focus that was traveling in the opposite direction. Tragically, the head-on collision took the life of a 41-year-old man. Ms. Padgett and two passengers in her Audi sustained significant injuries in the accident. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash. Officers determined that there were “indications of impairment” when investigating the accident.
The Sentence: Two Years in Prison
The now 22-year-old from Orlando has been sentenced to two years in prison. She will also serve three years probation following her release. As part of the plea agreement, Ms. Padgett took a lesser charge of vehicular homicide. She also pleaded guilty to DUI accident causing serious bodily injury. As part of the agreement, a DUI manslaughter charge was dropped. Notably, the judge highlighted the defendant’s youth—just 20 years old at the time of the crash—as a factor in Sentencing.
An Overview of Felony DUI Charges in Florida (DUI Crashes)
Drunk driving is always a serious criminal offense. That being said, the criminal liability is heightened if the driver is involved in a crash that leads to serious harm. Indeed, these are felony DUI cases in Florida. Here is an overview of three of the most serious felony DUI accident offenses in our state:
- DUI Serious Bodily Injury: In Florida, this is a charge that can be filed when a driver operates a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and they cause an accident resulting in serious bodily injury to another. The term “serious bodily injury” refers to injuries that pose a risk of death, serious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
- Vehicular Homicide: Vehicular homicide is a criminal charge that can be filed when a person’s reckless driving results in the death of another person. It encompasses driving in a manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm—without the influence of alcohol or drugs being a necessary component. It may be charged after a fatal DUI crash. It is less serious than a DUI manslaughter offense.
- DUI Manslaughter: DUI manslaughter is a crime that occurs when an individual causes the death of another person while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It combines the elements of DUI with the fatal consequences of the driver’s actions. DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Florida. Though it can be heightened to a first-degree felony offense when certain factors are present.
Speak to Our Orlando DUI Defense Attorney Today
At The Baez Law Firm, our Orlando DUI defense lawyer is a skilled, experienced, and results-focused advocate for people and families. If you have any questions about felony DUI cases, please do hesitate to contact us for a strictly confidential, no obligation initial appointment. With a law office in Orlando, we defend felony DUI cases throughout the wider region in Central Florida.
Source:
wptv.com/region-c-palm-beach-county/lake-worth-beach/woman-22-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison-for-vehicular-homicide-in-2022
