Michelle Lee Staples was sentenced to 15 years in Bartow County after a non-negotiated plea deal this week. Staples pleaded guilty to five counts of homicide by vehicle, five counts of driving under the influence and a travel lane violation in a July 2013 crash that killed 66 year-old Carl Beattie.
Superior Court Judge Suzanne Smith suspended Staples `incarceration time with the exception of 90 days to be served at the Bartow County Jail on weekends and the remainder on probation under the condition that Staples complete 1,000 hours of community service, pay $2,000 in fines and enter a DUI risk reduction and substance abuse evaluation program, completing any recommended treatments.
