By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

Carl Broussard has been sentenced to serve six months in the Orange County Jail as a stipulation of his probation.

Broussard plead guilty in March for two felony counts of failure to stop and render aid after striking LaMya Newhouse, 6, and her mother, Ava Lewis, 25, as they crossed MacArthur Drive on November 2, 2015.

Judge Buddie Hahn, on Monday, said Broussard did not kill the victims, his car did.

Hahn sentenced Broussard to 10 years probation and $10,000 fine after the Assistant District Attorney presented a report from Adult Probation stating the office felt the case was worthy of incarceration and probation should not be considered.

Hahn also added, on Monday, Broussard could serve up to six months in the Orange County Jail as a stipulation of his probation.

Broussard has until June 15 to report to jail.

Broussard stopped his vehicle further down the road but never stepped out of the vehicle before continuing the drive to is girlfriend’s residence. On the stand, on Monday, he said he had to lean over to the passenger side to drive as the window appeared ‘foggy’.

According to a probable cause affidavit Broussard told police that he entered the turn lane to head south on Donnell street.  That’s when he heard a “thud” that caused damage to his front windshield.

Broussard turned himself in the following Tuesday evening to Orange Police around 9:45 p.m., just over 25 hours after the tragic event.

Broussard faced two to 20 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 for each charge.

The assistant district attorney, during the trial, said Broussard would not be in this situation if he had just stopped.

Broussard was represented by attorney Paul Fukuda of Orange.

“Security cameras at Kroger’s showed he had his faculties about him when he stopped to pump gas,” Fukuda said. “Video showed he was not exceeding the speed limits. We even had a hair follicle drug test done to prove he did not have any illicit substances in his system for 90 days.”

Residents and friends of LaMya Newhouse and Ava Lewis have planned a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot near the scene of their death.