Emotional scene as man is sentenced for vehicular homicide

Pierce County, Wash. — It was an emotional and sometimes angry scene inside a Pierce County courtroom and in the courthouse hallway as a man was sentenced for vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment in a 2011 crash that left a 16-year-old girl dead.

Brandon Fair, 22, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for the crash that killed Clara Vallone. Fair was giving Vallone and another teenager, Maryssa Beare, also 16, a ride to a soccer game in September 2011 when he lost control of his car and slammed into a light pole. Vallone died from her injuries shortly after the crash, Beare survived serious injuries but has since recovered.

In court, Fair wept as Vallone's father called him a coward and was admonished by the judge to address the court and not the defendant directly. "I have absolutely no respect for you. It think you are a coward," said Anthony Vallone. Fair also addressed the court, crying as he told the Vallone family he was sorry for the crash that took her life. "I do apologize and I've taken full responsibility for the actions," said Fair. He was sentenced to 20 months in an agreement to plead guilty to vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment. A vehicular assault charge was dropped as part of the deal.

Outside the courtroom members of Fair's family grabbed at a KIRO 7 camera and tried to block the lens as they were asked questions about the sentence. Despite repeated requests to move the family members continued until they were told a Pierce County sheriff's deputy would be summoned to the scene if the confrontation continued. They then left the courthouse without further incident.

KIRO