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Petaluma Man Sentenced To 5-Year Prison Term For Fatal Dui Crash

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A man named in the sixth graf of the story below has the same exact first and last name. Please note that it is not an error.



SANTA ROSA (BCN)

A Petaluma man was sentenced in Sonoma County Superior Court this afternoon to five years in prison for the vehicular manslaughter of a Vallejo woman in a head-on crash near Petaluma in June.

Jesse Cockrill, 25, was driving a 2005 Lincoln on Lakeville Highway when it crossed the double yellow lines and collided with a 1994 Toyota Camry around 10 p.m. on June 7.

Betty Osotonu, 65, the driver, was killed and her 8-year-old granddaughter was seriously injured. Cockrill suffered major injuries and was in critical condition at a hospital. He did not appear in court for arraignment until July 23.

Petaluma police said an open container of alcohol was found in Cockrill's car, and emergency responders smelled alcohol on him. His blood alcohol content level was 0.16 percent, twice the level considered intoxicated, two hours after the crash, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.

Cockrill pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter and admitted causing great bodily injury to Osotonu and her granddaughter. He faced up to eight years in prison. DUI charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Betty's widower, Osotonu Osotonu, and his Pacific Islander family attended the emotional sentencing during which an 18-minute video showed pictures of Betty Osotonu and her relatives.

The former Army officer said his wife was an adviser, mentor, best friend and special education teacher for 25 years who walked daily and led a healthy lifestyle.

Osotonu said his wife's death took the family by surprise because they expected her to live a long life. He said his wife was named by the Hawaii state Senate as Mother of the Year in 1976 and the U.S. Army once elected them Family of the Year in 1979.

He said her death ended their 45-year marriage and left him "a broken soldier."

Osotonu also urged Cockrill to change his life for the sake of his own family.

Cockrill sobbed as he apologized for the pain he caused the Osotonu family.

"My heart goes out to all of you and you are in my prayers," Cockrill said.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Kandel argued for an eight-year prison term, and defense attorney Justin Milligan asked Judge Dana Simonds to grant probation.

"He did far too much damage and he's too high a risk to be on probation," Kandel said.

Kandel acknowledged Cockrill is remorseful for Betty's death and the pain it caused the family, but he said the collision "scarred a child whose life has changed forever."

Milligan said Cockrill's family depends on him as the Osotonu family depended on Betty. He said Cockrill, who has a 7-year-old daughter, had a tough upbringing but his mother instilled redeeming qualities in her son.

"He's a good man who made a terrible mistake," Milligan said. Milligan said Cockrill's alcoholism is "severe" and he needs structured treatment.

Simonds noted that Cockrill started drinking alcohol when he was 13 years old and was a heavy drinker when he was 20 years old. She said he was highly intoxicated and passed out on a number of occasions.

"You have an extremely serious alcohol problem," Simonds told Cockrill. "You were drinking at home before this happened," Simonds said.

Simonds, however said she believes Cockrill has the will to stop drinking and can get treatment in prison. She noted she has received letters from his family stating he is a good father and is loved by his family and friends.
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