SENTENCING UPDATE: Gainey sentenced to 30 years for DUI manslaughter
William Gainey – convicted of two counts of DUI manslaughter – was sentenced to 30 years in prison by Judge J. Dale Durrance Friday morning.
Patresa Ivey, left, mother of the 4-year-old victim, tells Judge J. Dale Durrance about how the death of her son and husband affected her. She and other family members talked during the sentencing Friday morning about how Gainey’s actions impacted them.
The sentencing follows a jury trial from last month where Gainey was found guilty.
On May 29, 2015, Gainey, 62, of Lake Wales, mixed alcohol and narcotics before driving and striking the vehicle of Christopher Ivey, killing him and his 4-year-old son, Jayden.
In Friday’s sentencing, Assistant State Attorney Melissa Gravitt stated Gainey doubled his oxycodone intake and drank alcohol before operating a vehicle and slamming into the back of the Ivey’s vehicle at almost 80 MPH. Gravitt said Gainey accelerated just before impact, requesting that Durrance issue the maximum sentence.
Family members of the victims wept as Durrance said Gainey would spend two consecutive 15-year sentences for both counts.
Prior to Durrance’s decision, family members gave their final comments to Durrance and showed him pictures of the victims prior to his decision.
William Gainey, 62, of Lake Wales, sits in the courtroom during his sentencing Friday morning. Judge J. Dale Durrance sentenced Gainey to 30 years in prison after he was convicted of two counts of DUI manslaughter.
“Reality didn’t set in,” Jayden Ivey’s mother, Patresa Ivey said. “I thought the next morning they were coming home.”
Another family member said she didn’t think any time Gainey served would be enough after he took two lives away.
Ryan Ivey, Jayden’s 12-year-old brother, approached Durrance to talk about his father and brother but broke down crying and had to be helped back to his seat.
Gainey apologized to the family and was taken from the courtroom by bailiffs after the sentencing.
