Vehicular Homicide Charge Filed In Officer's Death

SEATTLE - King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng filed vehicular homicide and drug charges Friday against a woman accused of killing a Seattle police officer in a car crash. He said he intended to seek an exceptional sentence because the standard range of 10 to 14 years would not reflect the "outrageous recklessness" of the act.

Mary Jane Rivas, 31 and a six-time felon, was high on cocaine and driving 80 mph in a 30-mph zone Sunday morning when she ran a red light and plowed a sport utility vehicle into a cruiser driven by a 26-year-old rookie officer, Joselito Barber, Maleng said. A judge has set bail at $1 million.

"His family, his police family and the broader community are devastated by his loss," Maleng said.

Maleng did not specify how long a sentence he intended to seek if Rivas is convicted. But he said he would ask a jury to find aggravating factors that would enable a Superior Court judge to impose a sentence beyond the standard range.

The Seattle Police Department planned a motorcade Monday to honor Barber.

"Lito Barber was exactly the kind of person you want wearing a police uniform," Maleng said.

According to a probable cause statement filed in King County Superior Court, two other police officers witnessed the crash at about 4 a.m. Sunday.

Officers said Rivas appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of her arrest, and drugs were found in her possession. She is charged with possession of cocaine in addition to vehicular homicide.

She was treated at Harborview Medical Center for a broken left leg and broken left foot.