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LAKE POWELL — A woman who severely injured a teen boy by crashing a boat into another watercraft was sentenced to a month in jail and 18 months on probation.
Jennifer Lynn Murillo, 44, of New Castle, Colorado, was driving a boat on Lake Powell near the Staton Creek camping area on July 4 when she hit another boat. A 14-year-old boy on Murillo's boat was thrown into the water, where he hit the boat's propellers, injuring his legs nearly to the point of amputation, according to charges.
Murillo's blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.126% nearly two hours after the crash was reported, the charges said.
Murillo was charged in July in 6th District Court with negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, a third-degree felony; DUI, a class A misdemeanor; having an open container of alcohol in a boat and three navigation violations, class C misdemeanors.
On Oct. 16, Murillo pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, a Class A misdemeanor. As part of the plea agreement, her other charges were dropped.
Murillo was sentenced to a year in jail, but her plea agreement stipulated the jail term would be reduced to just 30 days if she successfully completes probation. She was also given credit for three days previously served.
As part of the probation terms, Murillo must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and provide proof of successful treatment within six months to the Kane County Attorney's Office. All of Murillo's vehicles will also have an ignition interlock device installed, which requires the driver to provide a breath sample that restricts the engine from starting unless the breath alcohol content is below a set limit, court documents show.
