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By Vinde Wells - Editor
An Oregon woman was sentenced to six years in prison Feb. 11 for driving under the influence of drugs in a crash which resulted in the death of a passenger in her car, and for possession of a controlled substance.
Samantha N. Wilkening, 20, pleaded guilty in Ogle County Court to aggravated DUI. A count of reckless homicide as dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Judge Stephen Pemberton sentenced Wilkening to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for aggravated DUI and another two years for possession of a controlled substance.
The sentences will be served consecutively.
Ogle County State's Attorney Ben Roe said he is satisfied with the sentences Pemberton handed down.
"Given the fact that a death was involved, I believe the sentence was appropriate," he said. "Another factor is that the defendant absconded from the area for a time after she was charged. We also considered input from the victim's family."
Roe said Wilkening must serve at least 85 percent of the four-year sentence and 50 percent of the two-year sentence.
Wilkening was charged with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide almost two years ago after a crash on April 19, 2009 took the life of Robert Z. Tate, 22, Grand Detour.
According to Ogle County deputies, Wilkening was driving northbound on Ill. 2 approximately three and one-half miles north of Oregon, when she lost control of the vehicle which then struck a tree.
Tate, her passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wilkening also pleaded guilty Feb. 11 to possession of controlled substance from an incident that occurred on Feb. 7, 2010 while she was free on $7,500 bond from the 2009 case.
Ogle County Sheriff's Police arrested her a year ago when they found her to be in possession of less than five grams of a substance containing amphetamine.