WOMAN SENTENCED FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER

Royanna Johnnie, 19, of Fort Hall, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge for involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $12, 524 in restitution. Johnnie admitted and pled guilty to the charge in August 2008.

On June 13, 2007, Johnnie was driving her car on Broncho Road on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. A Fort Hall police officer attempted to stop Johnnie’s vehicle for speeding but Johnnie continued driving at a high rate of speed. As the car drove onto a gravel road, Johnnie lost control and the vehicle rolled, ejecting passenger Mandy Coby, age 18. Coby died at the scene. Johnnie was intoxicated with a .24 blood alcohol level.

U.S. Attorney Tom Moss commented, “This is a sad and unfortunate case resulting from driving impaired by alcohol.” He commended officers from the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who handled the case.