Woman sentenced in drunken driving crash that killed girl, age 3

PONTIAC (AP) - A Detroit-area woman was sentenced last Thursday to 10 years in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed a 3-year-old girl and hurt three other people. Ieshia Barnes, 24, heard at her sentencing how the April 17, 2015, crash in Pontiac devastated the families of the victims and even her own family, The Oakland Press in Pontiac reported. "Put yourself in my shoes," Alysea Stilwell said in a statement to Barnes in Pontiac's Oakland County Circuit Court. "I know you have kids of your own. Imagine waking up every day knowing you're not going to see your little girl anymore because you decided to get behind the wheel drunk. It's hard for me to wake up every morning knowing I'm not going to see my little girl anymore." Tabatha Brown was killed when the van she was riding in was slammed into by a car that ran a red light northwest of Detroit. Stilwell, her 2-year-old nephew and her 16-year-old brother were injured. A jury convicted Barnes of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death. Barnes earlier entered no contest pleas to three counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury. She was sentenced to two to five years in prison on those counts. "The crime that I committed was due to my drinking and driving problem, which led to this terrible accident that brought hurt, pain and suffering on many," Barnes told the court last Thursday. "Everyone in life makes mistakes, and this one was the biggest mistake that I have ever made. ... I have to live with Tabatha Brown's death for the rest of my life." Judge Martha Anderson said Barnes was on her way to pick up her own children at the time of the crash. "You, too, Ms. Barnes, you have children of your own," Anderson said. "You will be separated from them for quite a while and you will not see their milestones, but you will hear about them. You will have that luxury, but Ms. Stilwell will not. You will be able to see your children grow, but Ms. Stilwell will not. At some point in time you will be able to hold your children, but Ms. Stilwell will not." Published: Mon, Jan 18, 2016