Linda Hamm pleaded guilty Monday to driving drunk and killing another woman who was walking on a Maple Grove sidewalk. Hamm pleaded guilty to a single count of criminal vehicular homicide in the death of 54 year old Ann Blake of Andover. She was waiting for the walk signal to cross Hemlock Lane when she was struck. A Maple Grove officer who had been called about an erratic driver arrived in time to see Hamm go over the curb, strike Blake, and continue on to strike another car. Blake is survived by two children.
Hamm's blood alcohol content was .18. That's more than twice the legal limit of .08.
Hennepin County district Court Judge Daniel Moreno immediately sentenced Hamm to 8 years in prison, but stayed that for 10 years and ordered her to serve one year in the Hennepin County Workhouse. Hamm must also undergo chemical dependency and mental health treatment and cannot use alcohol or non-prescribed drugs, and will under random testing.
The County Attorney's office says the 8 years in prison is double the sentence recommended by the Minnesota sentencing guidelines. But since Hamm could serve as little as one year in the workhouse, prosecutors call that a significant downward departure. they argued for 41 months in prison.
October 15, 2012