Frankfort teenager Alia Sierra pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless homicide which resulted in the deaths of 17-year-old Haleigh Fullerton and 8-year-old Callie Fullerton Thursday afternoon in Clinton County Circuit Court.
Both charges are Level 5 felonies which carry a sentence of one to six years for each count. Her sentencing hearing was set for Thursday, November 15, at 2:30 p.m. in Clinton County Circuit Court.
“I think it’s a good start to an outcome and closure for the Fullerton Family,” said Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Sommer. “They lost their two girls on July 12, 2017 — Callie, age 8, and Haleigh, age 17. This process isn’t over yet in as much there is a sentencing hearing that is set for November 15 here in the Circuit Court.
On July 12, 2017, Sierra crashed her car into the Fullerton house at 4954 West County Road 300 North, killing the two sisters and seriously injuring their mother, Bridget Fullerton.
Sommer said eight of the 10 charges against Sierra were dismissed. He said the controlled substances, which were counts three through eight, that were alleged to be in her system could not be confirmed and couldn’t go to trial.
Sommer also said of the four charges remaining, the two Level 6 felonies — criminal recklessness with a vehicle resulting in serious bodily injury to Bridget Fullerton, the girls’ mother, and damage to the house, were not deemed as important as the reckless homicide charges.
“Under the circumstances, counts 1 and 2 (both reckless homicide) are the most serious counts and they would establish the sentencing parameters for this case,” said Sommer. “This result is the same result as if I went to a jury trial and received a verdict of guilty.
Sommer talks about what could happen with sentencing.
“Under the terms of the plea agreement, the court can sentence the defendant as the court deems appropriate,” said Sommer. “So the range available to the court under the terms of the plea would be anywhere from one to 12 years of incarceration. The court could also order the sentences be served consecutively in a case of the nature.”
Sierra is currently not incarcerated and is under court supervision.
Last month, an appeals court ruled that Sierra, who is now 18, would be tried as an adult. She was 17 when the accident took place.