News 14 Carolina's Jennifer Moxley is at the courthouse with more on the Newman family's plea for a harsh penalty.
SALISBURY, N.C. -- A Rowan County judge imposed the maximum sentence on an illegal immigrant convicted of killing a 20-year-old pregnant woman in a drunken driving crash.
Rigo Martinez received 23 to 28 years for second-degree murder, driving while impaired and hit-and-run.
During the trial, police testified that Martinez had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when he slammed into Leeanna Newman on Feb. 6 in Landis. Newman and her unborn baby died a short time later. Her 21-month-old daughter was in a car seat and suffered minor injuries.
Rigo Martinez received 23 to 28 years for second-degree murder, driving while impaired and hit-and-run.
Newman’s family described to Judge John Holshouser on Thursday how her death has affected them and how the daughter she left behind still doesn't understand where her mommy is.
“I come home and it's empty. There's nothing there for me anymore,” Newman’s husband Brad said before addressing Martinez personally. “You took that and nobody else, just you.”
Newman then told the judge that Feb. 6 was their six-month anniversary and he asked the judge to impose the harsh sentence.
“Your honor, you alone have the power to show everybody what happens when you get behind the wheel of a car and you've been drinking,” he said.
After his prison sentence is served, Martinez will be deported back to El Salvador.