Former Texas Paramedic Gets 8 Years for Intoxication Manslaughter

Feb. 11--2:43 p.m. update: A Travis County jury gives Terri Elmore eight years in prison after she was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter with a deadly weapon.

She received four years for each of the two counts against her and will be eligible for parole after four years.

2:35 p.m. update: The jury has announced it has reached a decision and it is about to be announced in the courtroom.

Earlier:

A Travis County jury is deliberating Terri Elmore's sentence after closing arguments in the trial's punishment phase Tuesday morning.

Elmore was convicted Monday of two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the 2011 deaths of Ernest and Barbara Boyett, who were killed when Elmore drove into oncoming traffic and struck their vehicle head-on. Her blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

Defense attorney James Erickson, who is asking the jury for probation for his client, said Elmore woke up in the hospital with no memory of the accident. He said his client had been a paramedic who "did good things for society." He also said Elmore had been active in several ministries and Bible study groups and that, aside from a speeding ticket, she had never been in trouble with the law before the crash.

Both Elmore and her husband testified that she suffered memory loss after the crash that continues today. Erickson noted that an ankle bracelet Elmore had worn since September had never detected her drinking alcohol.

"She's already demonstrated she's a good candidate for probation," Erickson said. "She's demonstrated she's capable of following the instructions when she understands them."

Prosecutor Mona Shea argued that Elmore chose to drink and drive, even after the fatal crash, reminding jurors that an ignition lock on Elmore's car had reported she had alcohol in her system when driving or attempting to drive several times.

"Our community's moral compass is broken" in tolerating drinking and driving, Shea said.

"You need to think hard about what message you want to send to our community," she told jurors.

Elmore faces up to 20 years in prison on each count.

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