Lexington Park Woman Sentenced To 22 Years For Drunk Driving Crash That Killed Her Child, Injured Two Others
LEONARDTOWN, Md. – State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Ashley Nicole Nolan, 28, of Lexington Park, Maryland, has been sentenced to prison for multiple charges stemming from a single-vehicle drunk driving collision, where she killed one of her children and seriously injured two of her other children.
“Drunk driving is a completely preventable crime,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “The Defendant started out the evening with a designated driver for a kid-free night-out with a friend. But on the way home, she detoured to her mother’s house, where her children were safely asleep, only to remove them and subject them to extreme danger. Instead of protecting her children, she made the decision to drive under the influence and tragically killed one of them.”
The Maryland State Sentencing Guideline Range for this case recommended a sentence between 3 and 14 years in prison. The defense requested a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines of three years. The State sought the maximum sentence of 22 years in prison. The Court imposed a sentence of 22 years in prison, with 14 years of active incarceration, a sentence at the top of the guidelines.
“The maximum penalty in this case was only 22 years because multiple child victims were involved. Otherwise, the maximum penalty would have been far less,” Sterling said. “Sadly, drunk driving has become one of the most socially acceptable forms of homicide in our society today, and that must change. My office and I have been on the front lines urging the lawmakers in Annapolis to take meaningful action.”
The sentencing hearing was presented by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
Corporal Dale Reppel of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator. The Collision Reconstruction Unit of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the case.
