CRIME

Reckless Frankfort teen receives 6-year sentence for killing sisters

Ron Wilkins
Journal & Courier
Alia Sierra

FRANKFORT — Eighteen-year-old Alia Sierra will spend the next two years in prison for her recklessness that killed 17-year-old Haleigh Fullerton and her sister, 9-year-old Callie Fullerton, Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Sommer said.

When she's released from prison, Sierra will spend two years on community correction in-home detention, followed by two years on probation, Sommers said.

Sierra was led away from the courtroom Thursday after the hearing to begin serving her sentence.

Sierra pleaded guilty on Sept. 27 to two counts of reckless homicide for killing the sisters on July 12, 2017.

Clinton Circuit Judge Brad Mohler sentenced Sierra Thursday morning to three years on each count and ran the sentences consecutively, Sommers said.

The Fullerton family members spoke at the sentencing, as did Sierra's supporters, he said.

"It's a tragedy for everyone involved," he said.

On that warm summer night 16 months ago, Sierra sped westbound along Clinton County Road 300 North at more than 100 miles per hour, ignoring her passengers' pleas for her to slow down, according to the probable cause affidavit. 

Haleigh Fullerton died sitting on a couch in her living room when a car smashed through her family's rural Clinton County home on July 12, 2017. The driver of that car, Alia Sierra, pleaded guilty Sept. 27 to reckless homicide. She was sentenced Thursday.

She lost control of white Honda Accord just east of the Fullerton's house, sped through the rural yard and drove into the house. The sisters were pinned under Sierra's car and died. Their mother, Bridget Fullerton, was injured in Sierra's recklessness and was hospitalized after the crash.

Sierra also faced four charges of driving while impaired by drugs.

The allegations of being high at the time of the crash stemmed from urine tests which indicated Sierra had opiates in her system. But blood drawn after the fatal crash indicated Sierra was not high on opiates or any other drug, calling into question all of the series of charges for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

As part of the plea agreement, several charges were dismissed Thursday before sentencing in Clinton Circuit Court.

Callie Fullerton died sitting on a couch in her living room when a car smashed through her family's rural Clinton County home on July 12, 2017. The driver of that car, Alia Sierra, pleaded guilty Sept. 27 to reckless homicide. She was sentenced Thursday.

Those charges included causing death while operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, causing death while operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, causing serious injury while operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing serious injury while operating a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance.

Charges of criminal recklessness and criminal mischief also were dismissed.

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

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