Ramsey Lee Gott, 28, Iola, will spend the next eight years behind bars after District Judge Daniel Creitz handed down what he said was a light sentence.
On Feb. 18, 2010, Gott was driving a car seven miles northwest of Iola when he lost control, killing the mother of his three children. Tuesday, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Because a plea agreement was reached, Judge Creitz said, given Gott’s lengthy criminal record, the eight-year sentence was significantly less than it could have been.
“For a level 4 (person felony), with your criminal history, 162 months is a standard sentence,” he said, equal to more than 13 years.
Although none of Sigg’s family members spoke during the sentencing, the judge read a statement from Carla Metcalfe, Sigg’s mother.
“I lost my daughter Nicole 17 months ago, today. The hardest thing for me and your boys … is that they will never see her again. During the last 17 months you’ve had the opportunity to improve and begin to make something of your life, if not for yourself, for the sake of your boys and Nicole,” the letter read. “To my knowledge, you didn’t make an attempt to change anything or even accept responsibility for why you are here today.”
Prior to learning the length of his prison stay, Gott was given the opportunity to speak.
“I just want Nicole’s family to know that I am sorry and I miss her, too. It was an accident. I can’t change it,” Gott told the court. “I wish I could.”
Allen County Attorney Wade Bowie agreed Sigg’s death wasn’t Gott’s intent that February night, but “it’s about accountability.”
“(Gott) made a decision to drink, a decision to drive, and that ultimately cost someone their life,” Bowie said. “The time that he serves will not bring back Nicole.”
Jessica Rogers and Steven Warden were also passengers in the vehicle when the car rolled. After the two were thrown from the vehicle, the car settled back on its wheels and Gott drove away, leaving Rogers and Warden at the crash site.
Sigg, who remained in the vehicle but badly injured, was airlifted to KU Medical Center when Gott met authorities at the corner of Texas Road and old U.S. 169. She died hours later. Rogers and Warden suffered minor injuries.
Iolan sentenced in fatal crash
