CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR)-- Kristina Mangrum, the karate instructor convicted of DUI while driving a van filled with seven children, will spend has been 15 months behind bars.
Judge Steven A. McCallum sentenced the 34-year-old Thursday to 35 years in prison on seven counts of felony child endangerment. However, the judge suspended 33 years and nine months of the sentence.
During court proceedings in August, an officer testified that a call came into dispatch on around the 8:45 a.m. on that June morning.
Witnesses said they saw Mangrum swerving all over the road, driving a white martial arts van along Hull Street.
The karate instructor was transporting seven kids from daycare to a field trip at a Chesterfield park.
The officer said that when he pulled Mangrum over he asked her if she was OK and that she said she was having some problems with her steering wheel.
The officer testified that he asked her to get out of the vehicle, so he could check but didn't find anything wrong. He said he asked Mangrum about any other problems because he could tell something wasn't right.
Mangrum was then told to walk a straight line and the officer said she was unable to do that. He also questioned Mangrum asking her if she had been drinking, taking any medications or illegal drugs-- in which she didn't respond.
Court records later revealed that Mangrum had a blood alcohol level of .30, which is more than three times the legal limit.
Mangrum’s attorney, Stephen Armstrong, spoke on her behalf. They said the 34-year-old received letters from friends, family and students from the Martial Arts World school. They described her as a good person and call this incident totally out of her character.
Last August, Judge James O’Connell sentenced Mangrum to 12 months behind bars, with 11 months suspended for driving under the influence. Mangrum had to serve 30 days.
Mangrum paid a $750 fine and was ordered to attend ASAP – Virginia Alcohol Safety Action program. Additionally, her license was suspended for 12 months.
Mangrum is scheduled to begin serving the latest sentence Monday.
