Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 23-year-old Aleia Easley of Buffalo has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Paul Wojtaszek to 5 years probation. 

On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at approximately 8 p.m., the defendant and another woman were confronted by a loss prevention officer from Save A Lot on Rossler Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga for stealing items from the store. The two ran and attempted to flee in a vehicle.

The defendant, the driver of the vehicle, damaged the passenger side door while backing out of a parking space. The defendant was driving at a high-rate of speed when she drove out of the parking lot and through a red light where her vehicle crashed into another car at the intersection of Rossler Avenue and Dingens Street.

Easley suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash. Her passenger, 21-year-old Jacquelyn McClain of Buffalo, was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries.

Easley pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge in October 2019.

DA Flynn commends the Cheektowaga Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the DA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau.