ATLANTA — Ryan Lisabeth was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday as part of a plea deal in a 2016 crash that killed a 9-year-old boy.
Authorities said Lisabeth drove under the influence of heroin and smashed his car into three boys in northwest Atlanta last year, killing one and seriously injuring two others, according to the Fulton County District Attorney's office.
Lisabeth, who is from Canton, was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, six counts of serious injury by vehicle, possession of heroin, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Isaiah Ward, 9, died in the crash. Two other boys, Isaiah's brother Roland and their friend Timothy Hood, suffered injuries.
Lisabeth's family sat behind him, supporting him in court during the hearing. They were hoping for leniency. They asked a judge to give Lisabeth concurrent sentences for the counts he faced, including vehicular homicide.
"To be honest with you ma'am, the 30 years was better than the 15, I’m pleased with the 30,” said Hood’s mother Teresa Lawrence. "I don't walk with hatred. He was already forgiven when I got my son back".
Lisabeth’s criminal records showed he’s a repeat offender and Fulton County's district attorney told Channel 2 Action News that got his attention.
“What people are wondering is why isn't the court system doing something about that person?” said Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.
Cox Media Group
