An Oregon woman was left outraged after the man who killed her daughter while street racing was sentenced to just three years in prison.
Jonathan Pena pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving Friday in the death of 26-year-old Ashlee McGill.
‘It was definitely too light. “I think if they’re trying to get people to stop racing, that’s not going to do it,” said McGill’s mother, Misty Nicholson. KATU News.
“I think maybe they gave him a timeout. But that wasn’t really a prayer.
In August 2022, Peña was racing another driver at speeds over 80 mph when their vehicles collided at a Portland intersection. His Mustang jumped the curb, striking and killing McGill as he waited at a bus stop.
An Oregon man was sentenced to three years behind bars Friday in connection with the death of 26-year-old Ashlee McGill.
Jonathan Pena (pictured) pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving
McGill’s mother, Misty Nicholson, called the sentence “a time out” and doesn’t believe it will deter others from racing on the streets.
Pena reached 84 mph moments before the fatal crash, 54 mph above the posted speed limit.
Evidence presented in court showed how the impact knocked down tree branches, shattered the windows of a nearby dental clinic and left his car mangled.
Peña was charged with second-degree murder the following August, but the charge was later upgraded to criminally negligent homicide, a Class B felony.
He pleaded guilty to additional charges of recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving that were accumulated during his sentence.
Peña will serve 36 months behind bars for time already served, with three years of post-release supervision and five years of probation. He must also pay at least $5,000 in restitution.
The other driver, Kenneth Freeman, also pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to five years in prison last fall. A third driver who participated in the race has not been identified.
Nicholson read a statement during Peña’s sentencing, which read: “I hope that for the rest of your life, every time you close your eyes you see my daughter and remember what you did to her.”
Peña’s Mustang (pictured) reached 84 mph moments before the crash, which knocked down tree branches and shattered nearby windows.
McGill was waiting for the bus in August 2022 when Jonathan Peña’s Mustang ran onto the curb during a street race. He fatally struck McGill, a devoted mother of an eight-year-old boy.
“I hope that for the rest of your life, every time you close your eyes you see my daughter and remember what you did to her,” her mother told Peña.
Peña shared a statement in which he pleaded with McGill’s family to forgive him.
“I feel like I owe it to you, to your family, to endure every trial and tribulation that this entails to ensure that you, as a family, feel that justice is served for Ashlee,” he said.
Kenneth Freeman, who was involved in the crash, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to five years in prison last fall. A third driver has not been identified.
McGill, a native of Portland, is survived by her son, Ryker, three sisters and many family members.
Peña shared his own statement in which he pleaded with McGill’s family to one day forgive him.
“I feel like I owe it to you, to your family, to endure every trial and tribulation that this entails to ensure that you, as a family, feel that justice is served for Ashlee,” he said.
McGill was a Portland native and a loving mother to her eight-year-old son Ryker. She is also survived by her mother, three sisters, grandmother, aunt and uncles.
Peña’s sentencing came a little more than a year after the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 615, which increases penalties for people convicted of street racing.
First-time offenders can be sentenced to up to 364 days in jail, a fine of $6,250, or both.
Meanwhile, repeat offenders within five years face a maximum of five years behind bars, a $125,000 fine, or both.
