A La Plata County woman who hit and injured a motorcyclist while driving under the influence of alcohol in 2024 was sentenced Friday to 45 days jail and 45 days of electric home monitoring as part of a plea agreement.
On Aug. 16, Inez Jernberg-Feely, 46, was driving east on Florida Road when she drifted into the oncoming lane, running head-on into Otter Sliter, 34, who was driving a motorcycle.
Sliter was airlifted to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood with serious injuries. He lost one of his legs as a result of the crash.
Jernberg-Feely pleaded guilty to felony vehicular assault and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but 45 days will be served on electric home monitoring. Sixth Judicial District Judge Nathaniel Baca also sentenced her to three years probation.
During the sentencing hearing, Jernberg-Feely’s defense attorney, Barrie NewbergerKing requested the jail time be dropped from the sentence.
NewbergerKing argued jail time was unnecessary as Jernberg-Feely had been more than cooperative with the court and had expressed an immense amount of regret and understanding of the harm she caused.
Jernberg-Feely is from the Netherlands and is not a citizen of the United States. Because of her immigration status, she will be unable to leave the country for the next five years or else she could face a high likelihood of being barred from reentering as a result of her felony conviction.
The consequences – like being unable to visit sick or dying family members – more than imparts the seriousness of her crimes, NewbergerKing said in arguing for no jail time.
Prosecutor Connor Wills disagreed and asked Baca to assign the maximum 90 days of jail stipulated in the plea agreement, pointing to the life-altering consequences to the victim.
“I believe he (Sliter) would gladly give up 90 days to get his leg back,” Wills said.
Judge Baca struck a somber tone, expressing a hesitancy to accept the plea agreement due to the seriousness of the offense.
“It’s going to haunt both of you for the rest of your lives,” Baca said, speaking to Jernberg-Feely.
He decided to accept the plea agreement because Jernberg-Feely’s had demonstrated an extraordinary amount of remorse, but would not waive the jail time so that Sliter would feel valued and like his injuries were taken seriously by the court.
Jernberg-Feely was taken into custody immediately after her sentencing.
In addition to jail time and probation, Jernberg-Feely is required to provide financial restitution to her victim.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
