Final Sentence
Nestande sentenced to 180 days in jail, plus 10 years of probation
KVUE -- A judge has made a final decision on the fate of former legislative aide Gabrielle Nestande.
The 25-year-old was sentenced to 180 days in jail on Monday. That time is added to a jury's decision to give her 10 years of probation, as well as paying a $10,000 fine.
"You have been given a second chance by this jury," the judge told Nestande Monday morning.
Last month Nestande was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in the 2011 hit-and-run death of Courtney Griffin.
Nestande has also been ordered to complete 600 hours of community service in Travis County. She will be required to have a camera and ignition interlock in the car she is driving for the next four years. The judge also says she must wear an ankle monitoring bracelet, and she cannot go to any bars. She must also write a letter of apology to Griffin's family.
Probation already encompasses several requirements such as maintaining a residence, maintaining suitable employment, reporting to the Probation Department and complying with drug tests or counseling recommendations.
Monday following the judge's sentence ruling, Griffin's family members addressed Nestande. Griffin's mother, Laurie Griffin, called Nestande a murderer on the stand. She said Nestande left her daughter like "an animal in the streets" and that her only concern was to run and hide.
"You must live with the horrible image of my daughter's body on your windshield," said Griffin's mother.
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