Driver sobs, apologizes at sentencing

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Buffalo woman who admits being under the influence when she struck and seriously injured a motorcyclist learned her sentence Wednesday.

Jennifer Garno sobbed as she talked in court Wednesday morning. Through her tears she told the judge she deserves whatever punishment she’s handed. Garno was sentenced in State Supreme Court of causing a hit and run while being drunk and high on drugs. Judge Christopher Burns says she will serve between 16 months and four years behind bars.

The victim, 51-year-old Jeffrey Stanton, says the sentence doesn’t ease his pain. His sister Maureen Marlott says regardless of what Garno gets, her brother will have to spend the rest of his life dealing with the injuries from the car accident.

Malott said, “You see this, this is not somebody who's overweight, this is someone who's guts are outside of his body. And had to have a skin graft to keep them together with his body, that's going to be with him the rest of his life.”

Last month Garno pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired and leaving the scene of a serious accident. Prosecutors say the 36 year old admitted to having morphine, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in her system when she ran a red light on West Utica in Buffalo and hit Stanton on his motorcycle.

In court, Garno said she was deeply sorry for what happened. Garno said, “If I could take back what happened that day I would I'm just truly sorry. I put that man through that and his family and I feel like I deserve whatever I get.”

Now that Garno will spend time in jail, her attorney believes she will use the time to get treated for the drug habit that she’s had since middle school.

Garno’s defense attorney Paul Michalek said, “There are avenues to get help in jail, but she has to make the efforts. Based on what she said today, I think she will.”

Garno will spend her time behind bars at the Erie County Correctional Facility.