A young man who escaped with just a year in jail for killing a teenage passenger when he slammed into a tree after huffing fumes to get high has been denied early release.
In reality, the jail term for Ramiro R. Ibarra, 20, is close to over since he was sentenced to the year in jail in September and is due good time credits which will make the sentence just over eight months. However, Ibarra was wanting to be released immediately so he could have some medical work done and serve the rest of his time on community corrections. He still owns the state 12 years on probation once he gets out of jail.
Ibarra entered guilty pleas last year for the death of 17-year-old passenger Ashlyn Barnes and for injuries sustained by his other three passengers. Prosecutors say Ibarra was huffing fumes when he decided to take his Chevy Blazer off-road in a field off Vervilla Road. Ibarra sped through a farm field, traveling nearly 2,000 feet before slamming head-on into a large tree at the bottom of a hill.
Barnes died at the scene while other victims were airlifted with serious injuries.
Ibarra first claimed he had been run off the road until evidence proved he had intentionally left the roadway, traveled through a gate opening, and began off-roading in the farm field.
Prosecutors allowed Ibarra to plea to the one-year sentence, noting that if he gets into any more trouble he will be looking at 12 years in prison. They also say they are bound by sentencing guidelines that would not have afforded Ibarra any significant jail time even if he had gone to trial and been convicted.
The victim’s mother, Gina Lance, has vehemently opposed the light sentence, calling the agreement “ridiculous” when it was imposed. She was present when Ibarra tried to get early release Wednesday, firmly set against any more leniency for the man who killed her daughter.
Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley rejected the request and ordered Ibarra to finish serving his jail term before being released on probation.