Garland intoxicated driver who killed girl, 13, accepts plea deal for 17 years in prison
Drunk driver who killed girl, 13, accepts plea deal
At the time of the 2022 crash, Jeremy Spencer did not have an eligible driver’s license because of a previous DWI conviction in Collin County. As part of his plea deal for this conviction, he'll be eligible for parole.
GARLAND, Texas - A Garland man who was intoxicated when he struck an SUV head-on, killing a teenager, took a plea deal nearly three years after the crash.
The girl's family is heartbroken that he was even allowed to take a plea deal.
What we know:
In 2022, 13-year-old Brooklyn Moran was killed when she was hit by Jeremy Spencer, who was intoxicated behind the wheel of his SUV.
Monday morning, Spencer accepted a plea deal for a 17-year prison sentence.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office says the intoxication manslaughter penalty range was 2-20 years.
Spencer also pleaded guilty to two counts of intoxication assault for injuring Brooklyn’s mother, Brittney Moran, and a young friend in the vehicle.
Spencer pleaded to two 10-year sentences for those crimes, but they’ll run concurrently with the 17.
As part of his plea deal, Spencer will be eligible for parole.
Garland DWI suspect in crash that killed 13-year-old has bond terms altered
Jeremy Spencer remains out on bond after Garland police say he caused the crash that killed 13-year-old Brooklyn Moran in September 2022. He appeared in court Thursday for a hearing.
Dig deeper:
At the time of the crash, Spencer did not have an eligible driver’s license because of a previous DWI conviction in Collin County.
Since the crash, he’s mostly been out on bond even while accused of violating bond by failing drug test patches for cocaine and methamphetamine and being at unauthorized locations.
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Man charged with killing Garland girl in drunk driving crash again accused of violating bond conditions
Jeremy Spencer, who is charged with driving drunk and causing the crash that killed a Garland teen, was back in court, again accused of violating the conditions of his bond.
What's next:
Spencer will be formally sentenced on March 3.
What they're saying:
Brittney and David Moran will have the opportunity to face their daughter’s killer at his sentencing hearing and formally tell him how they feel.
"We are prepared for it. We are ready for it," said Brittney. "We have an idea. We just have to get mentally prepared for it."
FOX 4 spoke with Brittney after she first got out of the hospital. She was driving but did not recall the crash. Spencer crossed a center line and hit their SUV head-on in Garland.
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Friends of 13-year-old killed by suspected intoxicated driver remember her life
Friends and classmates of Brooklyn Moran remembered the 13-year-old who was killed in a crash with a man who has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.
"I don’t even remember getting hit," she said in a March 2023 interview. "Next thing I know, I wake up at the hospital like 4 or 5 days later and didn’t even know I was in a wreck."
Brittney was wheeled on a stretcher to Brooklyn’s funeral.
Now, Brittney says she’s ready to face her daughter’s killer and finally get some closure.
"You never heal and move on from grieving and stuff," she said.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Dallas County court records, interviews with the victim's parents and previous FOX 4 coverage.