MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Alfredo Navarro, Jr. was sentenced to 15 years for driving drunk and killing three people in Sedro Woolley. The 20-year-old entered a plea deal that upset relatives of some of his victims.
Navarro admitted he was driving drunk on Highway 20 in Sedro Woolley on May 23, 2014 when he crashed into a car driven by Fred Brand. Brand was killed on his way to work at the Tesoro refinery. Megan Brown and Nicole Washington were killed while riding in Navarro's car.
Navarro was critically injured, so was Quinnton Baxter who was also in the car. Navarro was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center and was discharged before he could be booked into jail. The State Patrol issued a warrant for his arrest. Days later Navarro's family took him back to Harborview because he was very sick, troopers guarded his room and made sure he was booked into jail when he recovered.
Wednesday Navarro apologized to relatives of his victims in Skagit County Superior Court in Mt Vernon. "I'm just so sorry there's nothing I can do to take it back," said Navarro.
Megan Brown was 21-years-old when she died. Her mom, Julie Orestad, had trouble even being in the same room with Navarro. When it was her turn to speak she stood in the aisle, "None of her dreams will ever come true because of that little maggot right there, " said Orestad. She also pleaded with the judge, "Do something for us."
Skagit County Superior Court Judge Susan Cook sentenced Navarro to 15 years in prison.
Nicole Washington was 23-years-old when she was killed. Her mother is raising her daughter’s two little boys. Diane Washington was outraged by the sentence. "He got away with murder."
Fred Brand's daughter and wife listened to Navarro's apology and hope he is sincere.
"I think my dad would hope too that he can make something positive come out of this," said Deborah Briggs.
Her mom, Minda Brand agreed, "Nothing will bring Fred back or Nicole or Megan. Hopefully the pain will be less each day for each family and hopefully Mr. Navarro is remorseful and will change his life."
Prosecutors agreed to the plea deal because there was some concern about Navarro's blood collected after the crash. In the chaos the blood sample was taken without a warrant. The plea deal came with a guarantee he'd be held accountable. The sentencing range for this crime is 14-18 years. Navarro was sentenced to 15 years. Even if he served it all, he'd only be 35-years-old when he gets out.
KIRO
