A Jefferson County jury late Wednesday afternoon sentenced 47-year-old Tonjia Chandler to 20 years in prison. The sentence came after an eventful day in the courtroom.
After a day-and-a-half of testimony, Chandler late Wednesday morning changed her plea to guilty to intoxication manslaughter.
Chandler was charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of 55-year-old Dudley Butaud. Family of Butaud testified that the man was killed the same day as his 30th wedding anniversary. Witnesses told jurors they say Chandler's car hit a railing and careen into Butaud's car on Highway 365.
Chandler told Judge John Stevens Wednesday that she still wanted the jury to decide her punishment for the accident that killed 55-year-old Dudley Butaud. Chandler told the judge she would like the jury to consider probation as her punishment.
A Jefferson County Forensic Scientist was called to testify during the punishment phase. He told the jury Chandler's blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit July 19, 2010 when Butaud was killed.
Update 6:00: Witnesses detailed the tragic circumstances that left a Port Arthur man dead in a 2010 accident. 47-year-old Tanjia Chandler is charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of 55-year-old Dudley Butaud.
Several pictures of the July 2010 wreck on Hwy. 365 in Port Arthur were shown in court Tuesday.
Family of Butaud testified that the man was killed the same day as his 30th wedding anniversary.
Witnesses to the accident testified that Tanjia Chandler seemed intoxicated at the scene of the crash. Family members of Dudley Butaud covered their eyes when pictures of the 55-year-old victim's body were shown to the courtroom.
July 19, 2010, the day Butaud lost his life, was supposed to be a day of celebration.
"My family remembers July 19, 2010 as the day my father was killed. Before, it was the day we remembered as my parent's anniversary," said Butaud's stepson, John Anderson.
2010 would have been their 30th wedding anniversary.
Anderson told the courtroom he and his stepfather had been together just moments before the accident. Butaud had been helping Anderson fix his car, and they were headed home to Port Arthur. Anderson said to the courtroom that he beat Butaud home. He turned on the TV and saw video of the accident on the news.
Assistant District Attorney Bobby Ortego says 47-year-old Tanjia Chandler hit a guard rail on Hwy. 365 in Port Arthur and swerved head on into Butaud's truck.
Samuel Watt saw it all. He told the courtroom he jumped out to help.
"I saw a woman screaming, 'Get me out! Get me out!', and I went to her and helped her through the window," said Watt.
"I went to the other person in the Ford, and it was one man. And it looked like he was in pain, and he was moaning," said Watt.
Watt says once out, Chandler was stumbling, wouldn't sit down and kept reaching into her truck.
Paramedic Ian Bryant testified that chandler told him she drank three beers that day.
Port Arthur Police Officer Tim Dinger testified that two beers from a six pack were in Chandler's truck, and she seemed intoxicated.
The defense questioned witness testimony numerous times Tuesday and whether the accident was caused by alcohol. Assistant District Attorney Bobby Ortego is expected to call more witnesses Wednesday. If convicted, Tanjia Chandler could face up to 20 years for the intoxication manslaughter charge.
Previous story: A Jefferson County jury Tuesday heard chilling testimony from witnesses to a fatal crash in the trial of a woman accused of intoxication manslaughter.
47-year-old Tanjia Chandler is accused of killing 55-year-old Dudley Butaud in June, 2010. Authorities say Chandler was driving drunk on Highway 365, when her truck hit the railing along the roadway then veered into the oncoming traffic, striking a truck driven by Butaud who was on the way to meet his wife to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
Witness testimony Tuesday appeared to affirm authorities' accounts of what happened on the road that day. Samuel Watt testified he was following Butaud when Chandler's truck swerved. He said after the crash, Chandler was pulled from the window of her truck and was staggering around the scene, refusing to sit down. He said she kept heading back to her truck, but never pulled anything out.
Butaud was pronounced dead at the scene.
The trial is expected to last 3 more days.
