Woman sentenced to prison in drunken driving crash that killed Las Vegas man

A district judge on Monday gave the maximum sentence to a woman who killed a 28-year-old man in April in a drunken driving crash.

Judge Jennifer Togliatti sentenced Miranda Dalton to eight to 20 years in prison.

Dalton, 29, in June pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death.

Paul Maidman was killed April 9 after his Buick Century was struck by Dalton's Jeep Grand Cherokee on Cheyenne Avenue, near Rampart Boulevard. Maidman, of Las Vegas, was pronounced dead at University Medical Center.

A prosecutor said Dalton's blood alcohol level was more than two times the legal limit after the crash. Dalton also had a previous driving under the influence conviction from a 2001 case.

Dozens of Maidman's family and friends crowded into the courtroom for the hearing. Many of them wore white T-shirts with "Team Paul" printed on the front.

The emotional hearing featured a tearful apology from Dalton and a request from Maidman's family asking for the judge to sentence her to the maximum penalty.

Dalton sobbed as she apologized to Maidman's family in court: "I take full responsibility for my actions. The actions that caused Paul Maidman's death are mine alone. And I am so sorry for that. I want to apologize to his entire family. Before this I never thought this could happen to anybody."

Dalton said she was trying to escape her problems by abusing alcohol. "And now all of my problems have gotten so much bigger."

Dalton said the case has led her daughter's father to keep the child from visiting her in prison.

Dalton said she recognized that one day she will hold her daughter's hand again and that the Maidman family has lost Paul Maidman forever.

"I have taken that away from you. I am so sorry for that," Dalton said as she wept.

Six relatives of Maidman spoke at the hearing, including several of his sisters and his parents. Many of the Maidman supporters wept during the family's statements.

Mark Maidman, the victim's father, addressed the judge and said that Dalton's apology was not enough. Paul Maidman served eight years in the Air Force and was planning on getting his master's degree, his father said.

"It devastated our family ... 'I'm sorry' will never do. There was no remorse in the beginning. And it's a little late now to say 'I'm sorry' at the last minute," Mark Maidman said.

Dalton's defense attorney asked the judge to consider a sentence of three to 12 years in prison. He said that Dalton's apology was sincere and that she saved the family much heartache by taking responsibility for her actions and pleading guilty instead going through a trial, which could have taken years.

Togliatti said Dalton's prior drunken driving conviction significantly affected her decision to sentence Dalton to the maximum term allowed.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.