A woman convicted in a 2012 hit-and-run crash in Orange County that killed a Walt Disney World cast member from China was sentenced Wednesday to two years behind bars, plus two years of probation.
Jennifer Toth, 45, was visiting Orlando from San Jose, California, on business, when she hit 22-year-old Liu Ye with her car on April 17, 2012.
Ye was walking in the crosswalk on State Road 535 at Meadow Creek Drive, just south of the entrance to Disney World at Hotel Plaza Boulevard, when she was struck by Toth's car.
Before the judge announced her decision on Toth's sentence Wednesday, witnesses were called to testify. A Florida Highway Patrol officer answered questions about whether he believed alcohol was a factor, a fact that may never be known.
Then there were tearful pleas from Toth’s close friends and family.
“Respectfully, I am requesting leniency," sister Debbie Toth said. "I know my sister, Jennifer has been a good member of society and hasn’t had any instances in the past.”
Then there was the emotional testimony from the victim’s parents who made their appearance on Skype from their home in China.
They said their sorrow cannot be expressed and will never get to know the woman their daughter would be come and the children she would have had.
“I judicate you guilty," Judge Jenifer Davis said. "Sentence you to the 24 months department of corrections, credit for 58 days that you’ve served. That’s to be followed by two years probation. That probation being you serve 200 hours of community service.”
Toth could have faced 30 years in prison.