Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana
September 30, 2010

Defendant was Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

LAFAYETTE, LA—A woman whose passenger was killed while she was driving under the influence of alcohol was sentenced today to 40 months in prison, for involuntary manslaughter, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced. Patricia Ann Beckett, 26, of Austin Town, Ohio, was also sentenced to three years supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik, Sr.

Evidence revealed that Beckett was driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, beyond the legal limit under Louisiana law. On September 15, 2008, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Beckett drove off the highway and hit a tree, with two passengers in her vehicle. Upon impact, one of the passengers, Dozier Barnett Johnson, was ejected from the vehicle and subsequently died. The other passenger, Krystle Diane Martin, remained in the front seat unconscious. Beckett exited the vehicle and left the scene, leaving the passengers at the site. She was later found by Army officers and brought back to the scene of the accident, where she provided false statements about the event. An autopsy revealed that Johnson’s death was a result of the injuries and blunt force trauma sustained from the accident. The accident occurred on the Army Base at Fort Polk, La.

United States Attorney Finley stated: “This was a sad and unfortunate incident that could have been avoided. Drinking under the influence of alcohol is a serious matter with serious consequences, especially on our military installations. This case should send a message that those who drive under the influence and endanger the lives of others will face jail time.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley and Assistant United States Attorney Myers P. Namie.