Arizona dad and mom Daniel, Lacey Rawlings, who drove into floodwaters killing 3 youngsters, get no jail time

An Arizona couple who purposely drove into floodwaters — ensuing within the deaths of two of their youngsters and their niece — skirted jail after their surviving kids pleaded with the decide to allow them to keep dwelling.

Choose Timothy Wright sentenced Daniel Rawlings, 38, to 5 years of probation and Lacey Rawlings, 34, to 4 years of probation on Thursday following dramatic testimony from members of the family within the Gila County courtroom.

The dad and mom have been criminally charged after they plowed their military-style truck via the overflowing Tonto Creek the day after Thanksgiving in 2019, ignoring indicators and barricades that warned motorists to not cross.

The automotive was rapidly inundated with water. The couple and 4 of their kids escaped, however two of their youngsters — 5-year-old Colby, 6-year-old Willa — and their niece, 5-year-old Austin, have been swept away and drowned.

Daniel Rawlings, who was driving, had pleaded responsible to manslaughter and youngster abuse costs, whereas his spouse pleaded responsible to youngster abuse costs.

Two of their kids, Nelly and Dallan Rawlings, ages 12 and 13, took the rostrum in court docket Thursday and requested the decide to permit their dad and mom to stay dwelling and lift them.

“I like all the things about my dad and mom,” mentioned Nelly.

“My life wouldn’t be the identical with out them,” added her brother.

Wright mentioned the kids’s needs weighed closely into his choice to not sentence their dad and mom to jail.

Throwing the couple in jail might negatively impression their surviving two kids and the youngsters’ two cousins, the decide mentioned.

“These 4 kids have zero fault on this case, but they carry the burdens,” Wright mentioned.

The decide additionally mentioned he discovered the couple remorseful, and weighed their lack of felony historical past in his choice. Along with probation, the dad and mom should full vital group service time.

The Rawlings had handed via the creek on their approach again from a member of the family’s dwelling. The children pleaded to cross via once more, which they did, however this time in part of the creek they weren’t accustomed to.

The couple’s protection lawyer argued that Daniel and Lacey Rawlings had misjudged the doable risks of getting into the floodwaters.

Prosecutor Bradley Soos sought a four-year jail sentence for Daniel Rawlings, arguing that he had exhibited a scarcity of parental frequent sense, together with placing kids in a car with out sufficient seatbelts.

“Typically justice doesn’t really feel good,” Soos mentioned. “Choose, you’ll be able to’t have interaction on this collection of unhealthy selections, mirror in your choice to put these kids into this case and find yourself killing three individuals and stroll out of the courtroom a free man. That’s not justice.”

Austin’s mom, Lauren Johnston, described the ache she felt dropping her daughter that day. The loss has been particularly troublesome for the lady’s twin sister. However she mentioned that she has forgiven the Rawlings, and requested the decide to maintain them out of jail.

“I hope that if nothing else comes from this avoidable tragedy, that Daniel and Lacey won’t ever cease looking for steerage,” she mentioned in court docket.

Lacey Rawlings advised the decide that her household continues to be recovering from the tragedy. She mentioned the household is tormented not solely by their loss, but in addition by the burdens they’ve precipitated others. Because the incident, they’ve attended counseling and have spent extra time collectively as a household, she mentioned.

“Please, simply sentence each Daniel and I to probation with none jail time so we will proceed to assist our kids get well and have our household collectively,” Lacey mentioned.

Exterior of the courthouse, greater than 100 supporters held indicators that learn “Rawlings Sturdy.” They erupted into cheers once they discovered that they have been spared jail time. 

With Submit wires