From the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
Press Release
On February 26, 2009, Judge Fred Edwards of the 9th District Court of Montgomery County sentenced Amanda Lynn Doyle to the maximum of twenty years in prison for Intoxication Manslaughter and the maximum of ten years in prison on each of four counts of Intoxication Assault.
Doyle’s prosecution arose out of a vehicular accident that occurred on February 29, 2008 on Loop 336 in Conroe, Texas. Doyle ran her vehicle head on into a vehicle being driven by Daniel Hottman, an electrician and assistant pastor from Montgomery, Texas. Hottman, his wife Christi and their three children were traveling home from a church conference in Houston. Daniel Hottman died as a result of the crash and the other occupants of the vehicle were seriously injured. Doyle pled guilty to the offenses and agreed to have her punishment assessed by Judge Edwards after a pre-sentence investigation.
During the February 26, 2009 punishment hearing, Assistant District Attorney Joel B. Daniels presented detailed evidence concerning the effects of Mr. Hottman’s death on his family as well as the injuries, medical treatments and pain they were forced to endure. Daniels also presented evidence that Doyle was on probation for misdemeanor drug possession and out on bond for possession of cocaine at the time she struck the Hottman family. Doyle’s blood alcohol was measured at .17, more than twice the legal limit, and she admitted to having taken a number of intoxicating prescription drugs. In asking that the maximum punishment be assessed, Daniels pointed to the defendant’s repeated violations of law and violations of probation conditions. He argued that the defendant displayed selfishness, a lack of remorse and posed a future danger to the community. In handing down the sentence, Judge Edwards referred to the offense as the “destruction of a family”.
“In Montgomery County, families are far too often tragically destroyed by intoxicated drivers,” said District Attorney Brett Ligon. “Our office has and will continue to partner with local law enforcement to bring swift and severe punishment to those that get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they have had too much to drink. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hottman family on this tragic anniversary, but we hope this sentence brings them some closure.”
