A Polk County court has sentenced a woman to ten years behind bars resulting from her involvement with a DUI crash in 2007. The State accused the defendant, 29-year old Jennifer Oatman, of making an illegal turn at a red light and crashing into another vehicle on September 14, 2007. Oatman tried to flee the scene, but the authorities caught up to her. She possessed a blood alcohol content of .186, over double the Florida legal limit for alcohol consumption of .08.
The victim and other driver involved in the crash, Tijuana Jordan, was in her final trimester of pregnancy. Doctors were forced to perform an emergency C-section of the baby after the accident. The baby, Isaiah, died within days of his traumatic birth. An autopsy determined the cause of death of baby Isaiah to be blunt force trauma from the accident.
Two years after the crash, Oatman pled no contest to a charge of DUI manslaughter for the death of baby Isaiah. The parents of baby Isaiah testified during the sentencing hearing. The Court ordered Oatman to serve ten years in Florida State prison for a DUI manslaughter conviction.
The crime of Florida DUI manslaughter is considered a second degree felony and punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Should you or a loved one be charged with an alcohol related crime, contact a reputable Polk County attorney for help with your case. Musca Law has over 100 years of combined legal experience with convenient offices located across the State of Florida. Sometimes the result of poor choices can lead to life changing events. Contact the Polk County attorneys at Musca Law for a free, comprehensive review of your case.
