Woman sentenced to 14 years in prison for DUI crash that killed two
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — A woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison in connection with a drunk driving crash that killed two people last year.
Tazewell County Judge Tim Cusack said he didn’t believe his sentence for Stephanie Melgoza would make anyone happy but he did say it believed it was the most just. He also implored the packed second-floor courtroom to remember the names of the victims.
“What does my sentence to prison do if no one remembers their names? We need to get the word out,” the judge said.
Melgoza tearfully turned to the families of Andrea Rosewicz, 43, of Avon, Ohio, and Paul Prowant, 55, of Seattle and repeatedly said she was sorry. She vowed to live with the deaths for the rest of her life and said she hoped to turn something positive out of the tragedy.
“I never meant to hurt anybody. I’m so sorry for the pain that I have caused. I will not forget them and I will live with this everyday,” she said during a final statement before her sentence was imposed.
Melgoza, 24, entered a “blind” plea, or one without any agreement, to two counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of aggravated reckless driving.
On April 10, 2022, Melgoza’s car struck Rosewicz and Prowant. Both were pronounced dead at the scene after being struck in the 3300 block of North Main Street around 10:15 p.m. that night.
Family members of Rosewicz and Prowant chastised Melgoza, saying it was her decision and hers alone to drink and drive that night. They wanted the maximum sentence of 28 years behind bars for her, saying it was necessary to protect the public.
They held up pictures for Melgoza and Cusack to see, and reminded everyone of the human cost of the accident. Lives were forever changed, they said. Smiles were gone. Celebrations were different and Melgoza, they said, was to blame.
For his part, defense attorney Kevin Sullivan noted his client was remorseful and thought about the crash and the victims daily. He said it was her to called 911 and that she has been cooperative ever since. Melgoza, he said, wanted to “pay it forward” by trying to use her story to prevent others from making the same mistake.
“She could really become a poster child or a poster person for what not to do and who better to have that come from than her, than she, who’s experienced just this,” he said.
Court records indicate an East Peoria Police officer noticed Melgoza’s Dodge Dart with heavy front-end damage. Melgoza reportedly had slurred speech and red, watery eyes. There was a strong odor of alcohol as well, according to the officer’s report from that night.
A probable cause statement filed in court when she was charged indicated Melgoza admitted to police she was driving about 40 mph in a 30-mph zone and struck a person.
When they looked through the Dart, officers found a small bag of marijuana, a hitter pipe and an open bottle of Tito’s vodka. Melgoza failed a field sobriety test and was arrested at the scene, according to court records.
Aggravated DUI carries a mandatory prison of three to 14 years in prison. Given that two people were killed, Melgoza faced up to 28 years behind bars. She must serve at least 85% of any sentence imposed.
Cusack could have imposed a term of probation but Melgoza, a 2022 Bradley University graduate, had to have shown “extraordinary circumstances” why she should not go to prison. That’s different from most crimes, as the burden is on Melgoza to show why she should get probation.
Melgoza was given credit for about four months she spent in home confinement as well as two days already spent in custody. With that and the requirement that she must serve at least 85% of her sentence, she could get out of prison in about 11 1/2 years.
VIDEO: Body cam footage shows woman smiling, laughing after killing 2 people in crash
by JESSICA A. BOTELHO | The National DeskFri, May 5, 2023 at 5:39 PM
Updated Fri, May 5, 2023 at 5:49 PM
VIDEO: Body cam footage shows woman smiling, laughing after killing 2 people in crash (Police photo)
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WASHINGTON (TND) — Police body camera footage shows a 24-year-old Illinois woman smiling, laughing, and singing after authorities told her she killed two people in a crash.
StephanieMelgoza was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday. Authorities said she was under the influence and speeding, with Meglozapleading guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of aggravated reckless driving.
VIDEO: Body cam footage shows woman smiling, laughing after killing 2 people in crash (Police photo)
Multiple reports indicate the two people –Paul Prowant, 55, and 43-year-old Andrea Rosewicz — were trying to cross the street when Melgoza hit them in April 2022.
In the video, Melgoza appears disoriented when speaking to police.
Footage shows her asking an officer when she will get her car back when he tells her she was involved in a fatal crash. The clip was published by Law & Crime on Sunday and shared on social media.
***WARNING: This video contains sensitive material. Viewer discretion is advised.***
Melgoza: “You never answered me about my car. I have school tomorrow, so how do I get my car?”
Police: “Well, your car is totaled.”
Melgoza: “It’s what?”
Police: “Your car is totaled.”
Melgoza: “Total, total?”
Police: “Totaled. Wrecked.”
Melgoza: “OK, so how do I get it here then?”
Police: “You don’t.”
Melgoza: “So, I don’t go to school tomorrow is what you’re telling me?”
Police: “No. ma’am. You want me to be honest with you? You’re going to jail. You don’t have a bond. You killed two people tonight. I don’t think you understand that. You do not have a bond. You are not getting out of jail. Your car is property of East Peoria Police Department because it’s a crime scene. It killed two people tonight. You are clueless with that. Clearly, I’ve already explained this to you. You’re going to jail for reckless homicide tonight. You’re going to jail for aggravated DUI for killing two people. That’s what’s going on. So, no you’re not going to school tomorrow. You’re not getting your car out of impound.”
Melgoza: “Can I get it Tuesday for my night class?”
Police: “Did you just hear what I just told you?
Melgoza: “You said I’m not going tomorrow. I’m talking about Tuesday.”
Police: “Did you hear what I said?”
Melgoza: “You said, ‘you’re going to jail tomorrow.'”
Police: “You’re going to jail right when we’re done here. Did you understand what I told you? That you killed two people tonight?”
Melgoza: “Yes. I’m just wondering when I can go to school.”
Police: “OK, we’re done. You’re all on body camera being completely careless about killing two people tonight. You could care less. That’s sad and pathetic and horrible all at the same time.”
Melgoza: “Can you say that as a cop?”
Police: “Yes, ma’am. I can.”
The video went viral. It was posted on TikTok, with people reacting to the footage.
“Drunk or not something is wrong with her. Wow. No remorse. No emotion,” one person wrote.
“Right? I don’t care how drunk I would be if I did this I would be sober IMMEDIATELY,” another noted.
Others came to her defense, saying she must have been in shock.
Some said she was probably too drunk to understand.
“She’ll be devastated when she sobers up and realises,” another person wrote.
The second video shows her at the scene of the crash, where she tells police officers who responded to the scene a person walked out in front of her car.
My car got hit. I called you as soon as they got hit. I called 911 as soon as something happened,”Melgoza says in the footage. “And then someone said, ‘Oh, someone else got hit. And I’m just like, Oh, my God. How did that happen?”
***WARNING: This video contains sensitive material and language. Viewer discretion is advised.***
Melgoza goes on to say the person “came out of nowhere,” adding that she is “a safe driver.” She tells police she was driving at least 40 mph after leaving a bar.
“I honestly don’t think I was going too fast because I try to be precautionary,” she said.
She also admits she had three drinks containing vodka and wasn’t too drunk.
Like, right now, if you had me do a test, I think I would pass,” she said. “Like, don’t test me but I think I would pass.”
The officer then gives her sobriety field tests, with Melgoza smiling and giggling.
“It’s so hard keeping my head straight,” she says with a snicker as the officer checks her eyes.
Melgoza fails the tests and the officers tells her she’s under arrested for driving under the influence. She laughs as the officer places her in handcuffs.
She also tells the officer there’s no way she hit and killed two people.
I feel like I’d be crying,” she says. “I feel like I’d be like, ‘Oh, my God. I did this.'”
Since the videos were made public, Melgoza’s father has spoken out in his daughter’s defense.
At her sentencing, she apologized.
I’m so sorry for everything, and I will never, ever commit anything like that again,” she said, according to the Pekin Daily Times. “I have not drank since that day. I do not plan on drinking ever again.”
