BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont man was sentenced to 18 years Monday for a July 4, 2018 drunk-driving wreck that killed a 3-year-old boy and injured a 2-year-old girl.
Orlando Morris, 33, appeared before Jefferson County Criminal District Judge John Stevens the morning of Jan. 25 via Zoom. He had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier court date.
His 18-year-sentence was for intoxication manslaughter. The state dismissed an intoxication assault charge and the previous assault family violence charged as part of his plea agreement.
Morris was also ordered in court to pay at least $48,280 in medical bills for the 2-year-old who was injured, before any other civil proceedings seeking additional damages.
In court, Judge Stevens said Morris was already serving 10 years of probation for an assault family violence at the time of the accident. His defense attorney Chukwudi Egbuonu asked that his client be sentenced to probation.
Morris' probation officer said in court he did not think probation should be considered since Morris was already on probation when the fatal wreck happened. The officer also said Morris was on a "high risk" probation at the time, meaning there would be no tolerance for violating probation.
Landon Slaughter, 3, was killed in the accident and Amari Slaughter, 2, was seriously injured. Their mother said Amari was in ICU, had to wear a neck collar and needed physical and speech therapy after the accident.
The regional crime lab found 0.132 grams in Morris' blood, and .08 grams is considered intoxication.
"You destroyed my life with your actions," Landon's father said in court. "I don't care about your excuses. I want you to know I don't like you, I never will. I hope Karma comes to you fast, strong and stays with you forever.”
“I dreamed of coming here and did not know what to say," Landon's mother Sierra Neville said in court. "There is nothing that will replace my son.
"It is heartbreaking to see that you will post things about driving while you are drinking," she said. "You already made up your mind about what you were going to do. There is no excuse. You made a choice, you will have to deal with this the rest of your life. My son, my daughter are dealing without a sibling.
"I hope you change and you really think about what you did. One moment that you chose to drink and drive, you changed everyone’s life, not just yours.”
"I apologize to the family," Morris said in court. "I am deeply sorry. I did not mean for this to happen."
Morris was originally indicted on Nov. 7, 2018 for intoxication assault and second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter. His court docket records also show he is facing punishment for a 2016 charge of assault family violence.
RELATED: Beaumont woman mourning loss of 3-year-old son a year after Independence Day drunk driving crash
Witnesses told police that at about 9:45 p.m. July 4, 2018, a southbound Buick passenger car ran a stop sign and struck the side of a Nissan SUV headed west on Franklin Street at a intersection with Avenue E, Beaumont Police said.
The children were passengers in a 2017 Gray Nissan Pathfinder. Morris was driving a 1985 Pontiac sedan.
The force of the wreck left the SUV sitting off the roadway near a church.
Neither driver was injured according to the spokesperson who stressed the importance of obeying all traffic laws such as stopping at stop signs.
Morris originally refused transport from EMS, but he was later found to have internal injuries. He failed a field sobriety test. Investigators did a blood test at Baptist Hospital.
Victim impact statement from Landon's mother:
My name is Sierra Neville, the mother of Landon Slaughter. On July 4th, 2018, my only desire was to make memories with my children by taking them to watch the fireworks. I would have never imagined going to do something fun and returning with the loss of my child.
The crash that Orlando Morris caused impacted my life in more ways than the imaginable. Due to his irresponsible actions, I lost my son Landon, my daughter Amari fought for her life while in ICU. She needed to wear a neck collar for 6 weeks and was not able to be without 24 hr care. Amari had to attend physical, occupational, and speech therapy to ensure that she could get back to her normal self. Not only taking care of my daughter, I lost my job because she needed me more and my employer could not hold my job.
Prior to me finding out the name of the suspect, I prayed for him and I forgave him, because I tried to imagine how he felt. Later, I found out that it was Orlando Morris. Not only was he someone I went to high school with, but he was also my Facebook friend. After going through his page, I found that one of his friends tagged him in a post that emphasized getting drunk and doing donuts in the parking lot. This behavior infuriated me, because he and his friends took drinking and driving as a joke. Now, I am left without a child and he is facing time in prison. Following this search on social media, Orlando contacted me via Facebook messenger. I did not respond. I was contacted by Orlando a second time, but only this time, he was asking for my permission to have a tattoo of my son's name, again, no response to him. What kind of person would do that?
It's been 2 and a half years since the crash occurred, and I hurt every day for my son Landon. I am over anxious and over-protective over my other children now because all I want is to protect them. This situation has also affected my oldest son, Regginald, who was robbed of having a brother to grow and bond with. I feel that Orlando should serve his entire term of justice and probation. Letting him be free sooner will not only hurt me, but will allow this man to do this again, but to another family.
I ask that you all consider my life's challenges and consider how it would feel to lose a child by someone's inconsiderate actions.