Salway Sentenced for Killing Man with Her Vehicle

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana
March 21, 2014

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, Montana on March 18, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris, BRANDY LEE SALWAY, 23, of Browning, was sentenced to a term of 36 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.

Salway was sentenced because she killed a man after she ran him over with her vehicle. In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon, the government would have proven that Salway was traveling over 55 miles per hour in a neighborhood with a 15 mile-per-hour zone. She had a BAC of .193, and there was THC and methamphetamine detected in her blood. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Salway pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. In a sentencing memorandum, Weldon told the court, “Drunk driving in Montana and other states has garnered considerable attention. The highways and neighborhood roadways are shared by families, children, and pedestrians alike. Every time a drunk driver sits behind the wheel, tragedy looms. It, however, is a guarantee when a drunk, drugged, and angry driver travels over 55 miles per hour in a 15 mile-per-hour speed zone.”

The court sentenced Salway to 36 months of imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow. Because there is no parole in the federal system, the truth in sentencing guidelines mandate that Salway will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, Salway does have the opportunity to shorten the term of custody by earning credit for good behavior. However, this reduction will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.