(Le Mars) — The woman accused of intentionally causing an auto accident that resulted in injuries has been sentenced to ten years in prison. Wearing a purple sweater, 30 year-old Melissa Ebert of Cherokee was solemn when Judge Duane Hoffmeyer handed down the sentence at the Plymouth County District Court. In April, Ebert agreed to a plea agreement, and pleaded guilty to two felony charges of reckless driving that caused injuries to herself, her passenger and boyfriend, Damian Johnson, and the driver of the on-coming vehicle, Dustin Bull. The incident stems back to September of 2015 when Ebert was involved with an accident on county road C-38, southeast of Le
Mars. Prior to the start of today’s sentencing, Ebert was outside the courtroom hugging many of her family members and friends who had come to witness the sentencing. Judge Hoffmeyer allowed Ebert to give her account of the events that led up to the
accident. Ebert began by saying she was sorry to the Dustin Bull family, saying she never meant to hurt anyone. Bull was the driver of the other vehicle that was hit by Ebert. She then described the events of how and why she and her
boyfriend got into a heated argument.
Ebert says she was forced to make an alcoholic drink for herself and for her boyfriend. She says she refused to consume the drink, and Johnson got angry. At this point, Ebert began getting emotional.
Ebert says she retreated to the restroom to get away from her angry boyfriend.
The accused defendant says she insisted they find another person to drive, since both had been drinking. But she says her boyfriend ordered her to drive him to her home.
Ebert says Johnson had taken her cell phone away from her. She says she should have ran away, but was scared as to what her boyfriend would have done. She told the judge, she was confused as to what she should have done that fateful
evening. Ebert has a daughter with Johnson and says she wants to get back with her daughter.
Hoffmeyer waived the fees and fines, and ordered Ebert into immediate custody.
She was then placed in handcuffs by a Plymouth County jailer and lead away from the courtroom.
