An Oklahoma County judge sentenced Tracy Mitchell to 15 years in prison Aug. 25 for a 2022 drunk-driving crash that killed 36-year-old Thomas Ferguson.

Mitchell will also serve 10 years of probation after her release, according to News 9.

Prosecutors told the court Mitchell was under the influence of THC and alcohol when she struck Ferguson's car in 2022, killing him. Her daughter and a nonverbal passenger were also in Mitchell's vehicle at the time of the crash.

After hearing victim impact statements from Ferguson's family, the judge turned to Mitchell and told her she "killed a good man" and "has not taken accountability." Mitchell told the family she was sorry but could not remember the victim's name while addressing the court.

Four years of courthouse visits

Starla Smith, Ferguson's mother, said she attended hearings at the Oklahoma County courthouse repeatedly over four years before Tuesday's sentencing finally brought resolution.

"I came here so many times and left defeated, and today I feel like I can just breathe again," Smith said outside the courtroom.

Smith said she prays Mitchell does not find herself in the same situation after release, and that the roads are safer with one fewer impaired driver on them.

Ferguson's family and supporters cheered outside the courtroom after the hearing.

What the sentence means under Oklahoma law

Under Oklahoma law, a DUI-related fatal crash can be charged as first-degree manslaughter, which carries a sentence of four years to life in prison. Defendants convicted under that statute must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for release. If Mitchell's conviction falls under that statute, she would serve a minimum of roughly 12 years and nine months.

The specific charge on which Mitchell was convicted was not named in court coverage. Neither the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office nor Mitchell's defense attorney offered comment after the hearing.

Residents who observe impaired drivers can call the Oklahoma City Police Department's non-emergency line at (405) 231-2121 or dial 911 for immediate danger.