A Lyons woman who was found guilty of reckless driving in connection with a crash that killed two teenage boys in Riverside in January 2007 has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years’ probation.
In handing down the sentence at the Maybrook Courthouse in Maywood on Monday, Judge Carol Kipperman said the crash was “more than just an accident” and that until the sentencing date, 19-year-old Michelle Anguiano showed no remorse for being responsible the deaths of Berwyn resident Stanley Joray, 18, and Lyons resident Adam TeBockhorst, 16.
“Until this very day, I’ve never seen her show one ounce of remorse,” said Kipperman just minutes before Anguiano, a Morton West High School graduate and sophomore at Dominican University in River Forest, was taken into custody.
Anguiano’s lack of remorse was a theme that ran throughout the sentencing hearing. Family members of the deceased teens referred to Anguiano’s apparent disregard for her actions, pointing to comments made on myspace.com, which Anguiano’s attorneys denied she made.
Eleanor Joray, in a statement made for her by Stanley Joray’s aunt, Kari Neumann, stated that Anguiano “just doesn’t get it. She is the reason why they are dead.” Eleanor Joray referred to the alleged myspace.com postings, in which Anguiano complained about having to go to court and called the event “kind of tragic.”
TeBockhorst’s mother, Denise Abramczuk, asked that Kipperman “make her sentence harsher, because she knew what she was doing.”
“She left me with no family of my own.”
Anguiano, who did speak prior to the sentencing, said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want this to happen.
“I don’t expect forgiveness; I just hope for compassion.”
Her attorney, Fred Acosta, argued that the crash was the result of “an accident that was not intentional … one decision that could have happened to anyone.”
But Kipperman disagreed, saying that Anguiano’s conduct showed “wanton disregard for the safety” of her three passengers, two of whom died, when the 2004 Dodge Neon she was driving slammed into a tree in the 200 block of East Burlington Street on Jan. 27, 2007.
Anguiano lost control of the car while trying to pass a car driven by her brother. At speeds estimated between 53 and 77 mph, the car struck the curb, flew into a tree and then split in two.
Both Joray and TeBockhorst, in the back seat, were crushed upon impact.
Since being charged in March 2007 for felony reckless driving, Anguiano has been free on bond. She was convicted of the charge after a three-day trial in May and has remained free on bond.
Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Schweitzer asked Kipperman to impose a sentence of no less than two years in state prison in addition to probation.
“I think our preference was a straight penitentiary sentence of up to three years in light of the fact that there are two dead young men,” Schweitzer said. “But the sentence is well within Judge Kipperman’s discretions and we will abide by that ruling.”
Acosta said he doubts that he’ll appeal the judge’s ruling against his client. Earlier at the sentencing hearing, Acosta made a motion asking the judge for a new trial. That motion was denied.
After her sentencing, Anguiano was taken into custody by Cook County Sheriff’s Police and transferred to Cook County Jail, where she will serve her sentence.
In addition to the jail sentence and probation, Anguiano was also sentenced to 1,280 hours of community service at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
“I think the judge saw the truth,” said Stan Joray, the father of Stanley Joray. We’re still not celebrating, but I think it sends the right message.”