90-year sentence for drunk driver in 2 bicyclists’ deaths

drunk driver who killed two bicycle riders and injured seven following a New Orleans Mardi Gras pare in March was sentenced Tuesday to 90 years in prison.

State Judge Laurie White gave Tashonty Toney, 32, maximum sentence, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said.

That included two consecutive 30-year sentences for deaths of Sharree Walls, 27, and David Hynes, 31.

Walls was an Illiis native and director of a nprofit in New Orleans. She was a popular member of a Mardi Gras marching club. Hynes was a Seattle resident who was visiting city where he h attended Tulane University. sentencing hearing came a day after Toney pleed guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and heard emotional testimony from relatives of those killed and from some of injured.

New Orleans news organizations at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing reported that Toney apologized, but a prosecutor questioned his sincerity. A recorded jailhouse phone call revealed Toney laughing after victim impact statements were given in court Monday. And it captured Toney’s sister using a racial epit while talking about parents of Walls, who was African American. Walls’ mor h called for a maximum sentence Monday.

Toney also is black. In remarks following hearing, Cannizzaro said White me a “difficult but correct” sentencing decision. She gave Toney maximum 30-year sentence for each of vehicular homicide counts, which under state law must be served consecutively. Sentences on 14 related counts, including hit-and-run and charges in injuring of seven bicyclists, raised sentence by 30 more years.

Authorities said Toney h a blood-alcohol level of .20% — more than twice legal threshold of .08% in Louisiana — when he drove his Chevrolet Camaro into bicycle lane on busy Esplane Avenue shortly after annual Krewe of Endymion pare on March 2. Prosecutors said he was driving 80 mph (129 kph) and hit several parked cars as well as nine bicyclists.

“For ultimate loss of Ms. Walls and Mr. Hynes, law was clear that a significant penalty must be incurred,” Cannizzaro told reporters after hearing.