BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. - A Saratoga County man who pleaded guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter in the death of a 14-year-old Ballston Spa girl last July, will spend the next 2 to 6 years in prison.
22-year-old Gavin Staulters was sentenced in Saratoga County Court Wednesday morning.
Staulters admitted that he was driving while intoxicated when he crossed onto the shoulder of West Milton Road in the town of Milton, striking 14-year-old Kari Liedel who was standing on the side of the road with her friend just off the shoulder, ultimately causing her death.
In addition to the prison sentence, Staulters was ordered a mandatory license revocation, as well as a requirement to install and maintain an ignition interlock device on any
vehicle he owns or operates for three years after released.
A
victim impact statement read by Sarah Liedel, Kari's mother, who said
that while she wished the sentence could have been longer, she understood the
parameters of the law regarding sentencing. She also said that she did not want
Kari's friend, who was an eye witness to the crime, to be put through a trial
and hoped that the conclusion of the case might allow everyone to begin the
healing process.
She indicated that Kari's father Bruce Campbell, whose
statement she read on his behalf, was unhappy that while Staulters claimed
that he took responsibility for his conduct and changed his behavior, was still
was posting Facebook photos showing himself drinking and partying.
Liedel would have been a freshman at Ballston Spa High School this year.
Staulters is a part-time member of the Air National Guard and Ballston Spa High School graduate.
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