Honors Student Gets 15 Years in DWI Death

Woman must serve at least half the sentence before she's eligible for parole

A Sam Houston State University honors student who authorities say had a blood-alcohol level almost four times the legal limit when her vehicle slammed into another in a deadly wrong-way crash has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Bethany Leigh Denman, 25, pleaded no contest in September to an intoxication manslaughter charge in the death of 53-year-old Amy Meron.

Meron's vehicle was hit head-on in 2010 as Denman drove on the wrong side of the road after leaving a San Antonio restaurant.

The state district judge Monday could have given Denman anywhere from probation to 20 years.

The San Antonio Express-News reports that Denman, a biological sciences major from Conroe, had made the dean's list.

She must serve at least half the sentence before she's eligible for parole.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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