Man gets consecutive life sentences for fatal wreck
A longtime criminal asked a judge Thursday to show him mercy for killing a 20-year-old motorcyclist in a 2016 drugrelated collision.
“I ask that you don’t take the rest of my life away,” Mario Donsheau Cherry said during his sentencing in Oklahoma County District Court.
Just moments before, Cherry, 44, of Spencer, told the victim’s parents that he wished he could trade his life for their daughter’s.
“I can’t even imagine what you all have had to go through,” Cherry said. “I am deeply sorry for causing you all so much pain.”
District Judge Bill Graves denied Cherry’s request and chose to sentence him to two consecutive life terms in prison.
“This lady was robbed of her life,” the judge said.
In February, Cherry pleaded guilty to firstdegree manslaughter in the death of Laura Moriah Atkinson, of Midwest City. He chose to have the judge choose his punishment.
Cherry admitted to driving under the influence of PCP on May 7, 2016. After striking a retaining wall and rearending an elderly motorist, Cherry struck two motorcycles near NE 23 and N Post Road in Spencer, according to prosecutors. He was driving his
After striking a retaining wall and rear-ending an elderly motorist, Cherry struck two motorcycles near NE 23 and N Post Road in Spencer, according to prosecutors.
2007 Chevy Impala about 100 mph, prosecutors said.
Atkinson was thrown more than 100 yards and died at the scene, Assistant District Attorney David Nichols said.
Atkinson’s parents were riding together on the second motorcycle. They both suffered serious injuries. Cherry also pleaded guilty to causing an accident resulting in great bodily injury while driving without a valid license.
The victim’s parents, Ron and Teresa Atkinson,
attended the sentencing Thursday.
“The grief still affects our daily life,” Teresa Atkinson told the judge. “She was truly a special person. She is missed every day.”
The mother said she and her husband will never be the same. She told the judge about how they had to recover from physical injuries after the wreck but “nothing compares to the loss of our daughter.”
She described her daughter as a “fun spirit” with a sense of adventure. Laura Atkinson had plans to begin training to be a paramedic, the mother said.
“She will never get to be a paramedic,” the mother told the judge. “We will never get to see her marry.”
Cherry hung his head while the mother spoke. The mother said she believes in second chances but that Cherry has already had too many.
Prosecutors said Cherry has spent most of his adult life in and out of prison. Since 1991, Cherry has been booked into the Oklahoma County jail about two dozen times, according to officials.
He also has spent time in prison for drug and weapons offenses, records show.