Ashley Baumann, 26, of Merrill, returned to Lincoln County Circuit court for sentencing this morning, after being convicted in May on four felony charges including two counts of Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle.
The charges date back to the June 7, 2012 single car rollover in which 33-year-old Jessica Hartwig and 31-year-old Misty Glisch were killed. Following completion of the investigation, Baumann was believed to be the driver and charged.
During victim impact statements this morning, Judge Jay Tlusty and a packed courtroom audience, heard statements from families and friends of Glisch and Hartwig.
During her sentencing recommendation to the court, Assistant Attorney General Tara Jenwold played various clips of jail phone recordings between Baumann and visitors.
In the afternoon, defense attorney Wright Laufenberg argued for a sentence consisting of probation and a jail term. He asked that Baumann be given the opportunity to share the message of “Don’t get in the car” as community service.
Baumann, who spoke in court for the first time, said she wished she could remember what happened the night of the accident.
“The truth is I don’t remember any of the events that happened that night,” she said. “I wish I had the answers to everyone’s questions about that night, but I don’t.”
Baumann said she feels guilty every day for having survived the crash.
Judge Jay Tlusty sentenced Baumann to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of extended supervision.
Laufenberg said he intends to appeal the case.