Judge Robert McGahey's face turned red as he peered down at Sandra Jacobson, pronouncing the maximum sentence of 36 years for a drunk-driving crash that killed two children's librarians.
Prosecutors said Jacobson was drunk at 10 a.m. as she drove at more than 80 mph, then lost control of her pickup, swerved across two lanes and clipped the victims' van, sending it crashing into the median. Jacobson continued driving while the victims died.
Arrested a short time later, Jacobson first told police she'd downed cold medicine, insisting she was sober and driving the speed limit but momentarily lost control of her truck after her dog went for a Cheeto.
Her blood-alcohol level was estimated to have been more than three times the legal limit. And the judge said Jacobson's contention during the trial that she was not drunk at the time of the crash was an outright lie.
Then the daughter of one of the victims told the court that Jacobson had turned to her during the trial and mouthed, ...
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