A San Antonio man who pled guilty to intoxication manslaughter earlier this year has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for killing a woman who was delivering food.
On Dec. 2, 2018, Jennifer White, 33, was stopped at a light at the intersection of Perrin Beitel and Naco Perrin when Dakota Lovelace, 25, struck her vehicle from behind, sending her car into a delivery truck that was making a turn in the intersection. Ms. White died at the scene. Lovelace had a blood alcohol content of .237 – nearly three times the legal limit for intoxication. San Antonio Police Department investigators determined Lovelace was traveling 70 miles per hour when he struck Ms. White’s car without applying the brakes.
On Thursday, Lovelace appeared in-person for sentencing before visiting Judge Laura Parker. Strict COVID-19 protocols were in place for the hearing, with family and friends of White present. Maria White, the mother of Jennifer White, described her daughter as a “beautiful, bubbly person” and said “a hole has been left in her life and the lives of so many others” with her daughter’s death. Jennifer White was Maria White’s only child.
Judge Parker sentenced Lovelace to 12 years in prison. The judge also ordered an affirmative finding of a deadly weapon, meaning Lovelace must serve at least half of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.
“There is no excuse for drinking and driving. Jennifer White was an innocent victim in this tragedy. I know that the resolution of this criminal case will not bring Jennifer back, but I hope we can honor her memory by the simple act of not getting behind the wheel after drinking,” District Attorney Joe Gonzales said.
White’s mother said she will continue to fight for her daughter and all victims of intoxication-related crimes. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joe Hooker of the Criminal Trial Division.