Lafond asks for reduced jail time

Family of girl killed in car crash opposes the request

LACONIA — The driver in a 2013 accident that killed one teenage girl and severely injured another says her exemplary conduct while in prison has earned her a shorter sentence. But the families of the victims believe that she should serve all of the minimum sentence she agreed to when she pleaded guilty four years ago.

Amy Lafond was sentenced to two consecutive 3½- to 7-year sentences in connection with the death of Lilyanna Johnson and injury to Alyssa Miner — both students at Laconia Middle School — who were walking on the sidewalk near the Messer Street Bridge when they were struck by Lafond’s vehicle. Lafond was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.

Lafond, now 57, was in Belknap Superior Court yesterday to ask Justice James D. O’Neill to suspend the balance of her minimum seven-year sentence. Sitting in the courtroom were about 20 members of the victims’ families, some of them wearing T-shirts bearing Lilyanna Johnson’s picture and the sentiment: “It’s always sunny above the clouds.” Lafond’s two sons also attended the proceedings.

Lafond’s lawyer, John Bresaw, said his client has been a model prisoner and has taken advantage of all the betterment programs available and has shown that she can be trusted to be a responsible member of society when she is released.

“She’s been exemplary,” Bresaw told the judge. ”Prisoners who work on rehabilitating themselves, reforming their lives and show good behavior — these are the folks who have gone beyond the ordinary. Amy is that type of person.”

Bresaw explained that if O’Neill were to approve the sentence reduction, Lafond would still have to apply for and receive parole before she could be released.

County Attorney Andrew Livernois, while acknowledging that Lafond has worked to turn her life around, said the rehabilitative aspect of her sentence is only part of the story.

“We punish people,” he said, “because we want to show that people like Alyssa Miner and Lilyanna Johnson mattered.”

He said that to let Lafond go free at this time would also send the wrong message to the community.

Livernois pointed out that Lafond’s minimum sentence was the result of intensive negotiation with the two girls’ families.

As the result of her plea agreement, Lafond was sentenced to 3 1/2 to 7 years on a charge of negligent homicide in connection with Johnson’s death, and then another 3½ to 7 years for second-degree assault in connection with Miner’s injuries. She was also ordered to make $260,000 in restitution, and received credit for the 254 days she had spent in pre-trial confinement.

Lafond was initially charged with manslaughter which carried a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Lafond did not speak on her own behalf, but Bresaw told the judge, “Amy continues to be remorseful and if she could take back that day (of the accident) she would in a second.”

Albert Lafond, one of Amy Lafond’s sons, vouched for how much his mother has turned her life around and how supportive she has been for him throughout the ordeal.

“Just because she’s been behind bars doesn’t mean she hasn’t been there for me,” he told the judge.

But Lilyanna Johnson’s mother spoke against any sentence reduction.

“When you are reunited with your son,” Bethany Davis said, “you will know why we have pushed for this (sentence). If this were your child (who had been killed), how would you want to see this handled?”

This is the third time Lafond has sought to have her sentence reduced. In 2015 she petitioned the court to be let out of prison and to serve the balance of her sentence under house arrest. In 2016 Lafond asked for 180 days sentencing credit for completing three life-skills classes while in prison. O’Neill rejected both requests.

O’Neill made no comment during yesterday’s proceedings, saying only that he would take some time to consider Lafond’s latest request before making a decision.