WEST VALLEY CITY — A former Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy who slammed into a turning car while hurrying to the aid of a fellow officer without using a siren or flashing lights will spend 14 days in jail.
Carla Redding, 28, was convicted by a jury of class A misdemeanor negligent homicide, class B misdemeanor collision and class C misdemeanor speeding in the accident that took the life of Malarie Hilton, 19.
Hilton and three friends were in a car turning into a driveway on June 8, 2002, when Redding's squad car slammed into them, slicing the car in half. The accident killed Hilton and injured the others.
Third District Judge Terry Christiansen on Monday sentenced Redding to a total of 21 months in jail for the three misdemeanors but suspended all but two weeks of the sentence.
"This is one of the more difficult cases a judge can have," Christiansen said, noting that it is easy to sentence a rapist, thief or child abuser.
"I certainly do not find Miss Redding a bad person," Christiansen said. "She was a police officer doing what she loved to do. But she made a very, very serious error in judgment which a jury decided was negligent homicide."
On the other hand, the judge said, the Redding case was hard because a 19-year-old woman lost her life, and her family and friends suffer heartache every day.
Christiansen said this was not a case that called for the maximum jail time. Instead, he ordered that Redding serve her jail term in the Summit County Jail to avoid the Salt Lake County Jail where there might be inmates she helped put there; get a psychological evaluation and treatment; and perform 500 hours of community service.
The judge offered to let Redding choose community service or pay $3,500 into a soon-to-be-established scholarship fund that will be named for Malarie Hilton at Kearns High School. Redding also may donate an additional $2,500 to the scholarship fund that would otherwise go toward a fine.
The court also ordered payment of $10,599 in restitution.
Mark Hilton, Malarie's father, said afterward the sentence was fair. "We didn't want Carla Redding's life to be ruined. I wanted her to be able to pay her dues to society because it's warranted by her actions. I don't have any hatred for her. I want her to be able to pick up the pieces of her life and have a joyful future."
Malarie's mother, Suzanne Sawsak, said she had asked that Redding get the maximum sentence so Redding could think about her behavior and be accountable.
However, Sawsak said the sentence would serve its purpose without being vengeful. "I wanted her out of a squad car. I didn't enjoy seeing her handcuffed," Sawsak said, beginning to cry. "I know she has a child of her own and I know how that bond has to be formed."
Malarie Hilton's relatives currently have a civil suit pending against Salt Lake County, and once that is settled the scholarship fund will be established at Kearns High School.
Redding had been working as a Murray police officer but relinquished that job upon sentencing, according to her attorney, Ed Brass.
However, prosecutor Brenda Beaton said Redding swore to serve and protect all of society, not just fellow officers, when she became a police officer — and that there was no reason why Redding could not have activated the siren and flashing lights in her squad car when rushing to help another officer.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com