Brenda Violante reacts to the court鈥檚 decision during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was sentenced to 2 years in prison follow by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante turns to the family of Nolan Rice to apologize while giving a statement during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was charged with 2 years of prison followed by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante鈥檚 attorney Lane Fitzgerald speaks during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was charged with 2 years of prison follow by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante cries while giving a statement during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was charged with 2 years of prison follow by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante reacts to the court鈥檚 decision during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was sentenced to 2 years in prison follow by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante turns to the family of Nolan Rice to apologize while giving a statement during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was charged with 2 years of prison followed by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante鈥檚 attorney Lane Fitzgerald speaks during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was charged with 2 years of prison follow by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
Brenda Violante cries while giving a statement during her sentencing hearing for the death of 9-year-old Nolan Rice who she struck and killed by a vehicle on East Memorial Drive in 2022. Violante was charged with 2 years of prison follow by 2 years of extended supervision and 200 hours of community service.
JANESVILLE 鈥 A 糖心Vlog传媒 woman who struck and killed a child with her SUV as he walked home from school last year will spend the next two years in prison.
Brenda Violante, 40, will additionally serve two years of probation after completing her prison term. Rock County Circuit Judge Derrick A. Grubb also, at a sentencing hearing on Thursday, ordered Violante to log 200 hours of community service following her prison term, preferably as a crossing guard at Adams Elementary School where Nolan Rice, 9, was a fourth-grader, or at another school.
Rice, 9, was struck and killed on Sept. 28, 2022, at the intersection of East Memorial Drive and Prairie Avenue, a few blocks from school.
According to a criminal complaint, Violante said she was on her way to get groceries when she struck Rice. She told police she had made a complete stop before making a right turn, and hit him.
Rice was flown to UW Hospital in Madison, where he died.
Violante was freed on a $1,000 signature bond on Nov. 7, 2022, and remained out of jail until Thursday鈥檚 sentencing hearing when she was taken into custody. She pleaded guilty on July 21 to a felony charge of knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing death.
Violante was not on her phone or under the influence of drugs when she hit Rice, an investigation found.
Attorney Lane Fitzgerald spoke for Violante on Thursday, saying she understood the ramifications and consequences of her actions.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Mrs. Violante will come to a prophetic realization as she鈥檚 sitting in prison that suddenly now she understands that this is a problem, that what she did was wrong,鈥 Fitzgerald said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 already there.鈥
鈥淚 accept all responsibility for my actions,鈥 Violante said in a brief statement in court Thursday. 鈥淚 would never intentionally harm a child or anyone else for that matter.鈥
Nolan鈥檚 father, Derek Rice, sat with his head hung low while his girlfriend, Stephanie Gilbertson squeezed his arm.
Against her lawyer鈥檚 advisement, a sobbing Violante then turned toward the Rice family and said 鈥淚鈥檓 so sorry for the loss and pain you are going through.鈥
鈥淚 can鈥檛 escape the images and memories from that day,鈥 Violante said. 鈥淚 am the eye of an emotional hurricane. As I sit here, I want to apologize to the family more than anything, however, my attorney advised me that he will not allow me to do that.鈥
Nolan鈥檚 mother, Danielle Rice, had previously sent the court a letter, which Judge Grubb read.
鈥淪he made a mistake,鈥 the letter said. 鈥淣olan would not want someone to suffer. I have lost a child and it does not seem right to me that anyone else needs to suffer anymore from this loss, including [Violante鈥檚] children and family. I do not want to see Mrs. Violante in jail.鈥
Nolan鈥檚 family held their heads down and their eyes closed as Grubb read the letter.
Danielle Rice recommended in her letter that Violante help the community stay safe by being a crossing guard at her son鈥檚 school.
Violante has a daughter, no prior record, a history as a volunteer, and has been married for 21 years, all of which Judge Grubb took into account. In the end, however, a 9-year-old child was killed, he said.
鈥淚 think Mrs. Violante can do a lot of good by having to do that community service,鈥 the judge said.
