AMHERST TOWNSHIP -- A woman who drove a car into an Amherst Township home and killed a mother of two was granted early judicial release during a hearing Thursday.
Adrianna Young, 26, has served six months of a 4 1/2 year sentence for killing 34-year-old Debra Majkut in July of 2015.
In November, she filed a motion for judicial release. The state filed an opposition shortly after.
Young drove her Toyota Camry into Majkut's Leavitt Road home, striking and killing her as she sat in the living room.
Majkut's 5-month-old son, Jaxon, was also in the room. He was pulled beneath the car's tailpipe and suffered fifth and sixth degree burns. Neighbors heard the crash and responded to the scene, lifting the car to save Jaxon.
Prosecutors say Young was recorded at the scene stating her intention to flee, but there was a “freaking baby under my car.”
Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Miraldi granted Young's release based on her good behavior in prison and her low risk to repeat an offense.
“Miss Young's behavior at the time of this tragedy did not help her case, but it is her behavior in prison that I am required to take into consideration,” Miraldi told the court.
Miraldi said evidence did not prove Young was under the influence at the time of the crash, though trace amounts of marijuana were detected in her system. He also cited similar cases that resulted in judicial release rulings.
The Majkut family requested Young serve the full potential eight years behind bars when she pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in May.
James Majkut, Debra's husband, addressed the court with Jaxon at his side. James Majkut begged Miraldi to continue Young's sentence, noting the leniency of the 4 1/2 year sentence.
See video of James Majkut's plea to Miraldi in the player below.
The Majkut family has also received dozens of letters in their support. Those letters were displayed to the court Thursday. Miraldi said he read every letter received.
See a portion of Miraldi's explanation for his decision in the video below.
“If I am wrong, unfortunately, I still have the power of returning the defendant to prison for a long time,” Miraldi added.