KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- A former political candidate and activist in Kansas City, Kansas, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison Wednesday morning after a jury convicted her on a manslaughter charge for speeding into a crowd of people and killing a teenage girl in 2015.
There was a standing room only crowd in the Wyandotte County courtroom as they awaited Pledger's sentence.
The judge sentenced her to 64 months, including 20 days time served.
After the sentencing, 41 Action News spoke with Pledger's pastor, Samuel Young, who addressed the court on her behalf. He said the judge showed no mercy.
"Anybody can have an accident, but judge let's have some mercy," said Young.
Pledger said she was on the way to break up a fight involving a family member when she crashed into a group of teenagers. The crash killed 16-year-old Tierra Smith and injured others.
Witnesses said Pledger was panicked and scared at the scene.
Pledger received just a few months shy of the maximum sentence in the case. James Spies, the prosecuting attorney, said after the verdict that he'd recommend the maximum sentence because of what he described as Pledger's "extremely reckless behavior." He believes Pledger's lack of remorse factored into the judge's sentence.
At minimum, Pledger could have walked with no prison time and a probation sentence.
Witnesses who saw the fight and the crash testified in Pledger's trial. One witness said Pledger was driving at "highway speeds" when she hit the crowd. Crash reconstruction experts told the court she was going at least 35 miles per hour. Other expert testimony brought by the prosecution noted no indication of heavy breaking or skid marks at the scene.
Pledger asked the judge if she could remain out on bond as she planed her appeal. He denied her request and she was taken into custody.
