HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, MI – A Michigan woman, Leticia Gonzales, 31, was handed a prison sentence of two to five years on Monday for a fatal car accident that claimed the lives of her three young sons in 2022. Reports indicate that Gonzales was under the influence of methadone, a narcotic painkiller also used in treating opioid addiction, at the time of the accident.
The tragic incident occurred in February 2022 when Gonzales lost control of her SUV, causing it to flip into an ice-covered pond in Holland Township, Michigan. The vehicle was carrying her three sons, Jerome III, 4, Jeremiah, 3, and Josiah, 1, who all tragically drowned while trapped inside the car. Gonzales managed to escape the crash with minor injuries.
In April, Gonzales pleaded no contest to one count of operating while intoxicated causing injury and three misdemeanor charges of moving violation causing death. The plea deal was initially expected to result in a one-year jail term. However, she later withdrew her plea after the presiding judge indicated his intention to impose a minimum four-year prison sentence.
During her court appearance, an emotional Gonzales expressed her remorse and asked for mercy. She admitted to dealing with survivor’s guilt since the day of the accident and accepted responsibility for her actions. Despite her pleas, Judge Jon Hulsing noted that this was not Gonzales’ first encounter with drug use and that her children had paid the ultimate price for her actions.
The sentencing comes months after the fatal crash, with authorities charging Gonzales in connection with the incident. It remains unclear if Gonzales has legal representation to comment on her sentence.