Woman who killed rookie cop gets 20 years
SEATTLE -- A six-time felon who was high on cocaine when she killed a rookie Seattle police officer last year was sentenced to 20 years, 10 months in prison Friday.
Mary Jane Rivas, 32, was driving 80 mph in a 30-mph zone on August 13, 2006, when she ran a red light and plowed a sport utility vehicle into a cruiser driven by a 26-year-old Joselito Barber.
In court on Friday, Rivas made a tearful apology to the family who lost a loving son and brother.
"I would do all the time in the world if it would bring your son back," she said.
Jasmine Young, Barber's younger sister who waited 16 months to address Rivas, finally spoke up.
"I don't hate you. I don't hate Mary Rivas. Nothing you do will bring my brother back again," she said.
Barber's father said he still hasn't found a way to cope with the pain.
"I don't have a plan to deal with my grief tomorrow. I only know that heartache will be there," said Ernie Barber.
Lorna Ring, Barber's mother, said she's still searching for closure.
"I have asked God many times, 'why him?'" she said."When Lito died, a part of me died with him."
Rivas wept as she listened to the emotional statements of the Barber family and as she watched the DVD the family prepared in memory of their loved one.
Barber, who had been on the force just eight months, was on patrol when Rivas crashed into him. He was killed instantly. Rivas had been out of prison just 10 days at the time of the crash and never reported as required to the Department of Corrections. She was supposed to go into drug rehab, and records show her probation officer made only a single phone call in an attempt to find her.
When the judge filed the charges against Rivas last year, the late King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng 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, 32, was driving 80 mph in a 30-mph zone on August 13, 2006, when she ran a red light and plowed a sport utility vehicle into a cruiser driven by a 26-year-old Joselito Barber.
In court on Friday, Rivas made a tearful apology to the family who lost a loving son and brother.
"I would do all the time in the world if it would bring your son back," she said.
Jasmine Young, Barber's younger sister who waited 16 months to address Rivas, finally spoke up.
"I don't hate you. I don't hate Mary Rivas. Nothing you do will bring my brother back again," she said.
Barber's father said he still hasn't found a way to cope with the pain.
"I don't have a plan to deal with my grief tomorrow. I only know that heartache will be there," said Ernie Barber.
Lorna Ring, Barber's mother, said she's still searching for closure.
"I have asked God many times, 'why him?'" she said."When Lito died, a part of me died with him."
Rivas wept as she listened to the emotional statements of the Barber family and as she watched the DVD the family prepared in memory of their loved one.
Barber, who had been on the force just eight months, was on patrol when Rivas crashed into him. He was killed instantly. Rivas had been out of prison just 10 days at the time of the crash and never reported as required to the Department of Corrections. She was supposed to go into drug rehab, and records show her probation officer made only a single phone call in an attempt to find her.
When the judge filed the charges against Rivas last year, the late King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng 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.