An Ithaca woman will serve time in state prison for her role in a 2023 crash that killed a 25-year-old Millport man in Chemung County.
Juria S. Vanness, 44, was sentenced April 17 to an indeterminate term of 2⅓ to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree vehicular manslaughter, a class C felony, according to the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office.
The charge stems from a three-vehicle crash on Oct. 26, 2023, along Route 13 in the town of Veteran that resulted in the death of Alexei G. Seymour.
Prosecutors said Vanness was impaired by methamphetamine at the time of the crash and was driving with a revoked license after previously refusing a chemical test. She entered a guilty plea on Feb. 20.
Before sentencing, the court heard statements from Seymour’s family, including his mother and two grandmothers, as well as a written statement from his girlfriend. The district attorney also outlined Vanness’s prior criminal history, which included convictions related to impaired driving and unlicensed operation.
Vanness’s attorney acknowledged the severity of the case and noted that she waived her right to trial by accepting the plea agreement. Vanness also addressed the court, admitting she should not have been driving and apologizing for her actions.
In addition to the prison sentence, she was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, along with surcharges and fees totaling $385.
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