Lexington Park Woman Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Drunk Driving Crash That Killed Her Child
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced Tuesday that Ashley Nicole Nolan, 28, of Lexington Park, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison—14 of which must be served—for a drunk driving crash that killed one of her children and seriously injured two others.
The tragic incident stemmed from a single-vehicle collision caused by Nolan while under the influence of alcohol. Initially out for a child-free night with a friend and a designated driver, Nolan later detoured to her mother’s house, where her children were asleep. She removed them from safety and drove while impaired, leading to the fatal crash.
“Drunk driving is a completely preventable crime,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “Instead of protecting her children, she chose to drive under the influence and tragically killed one of them. This case is heartbreaking—and it didn’t have to happen.”
The Maryland sentencing guidelines recommended a prison term between 3 and 14 years. The defense sought the minimum, but prosecutors pushed for the maximum allowable sentence of 22 years, citing the presence of multiple child victims. Judge Joseph Stanalonis imposed the full 22-year sentence, with 14 years of active incarceration, aligning with the top of the guidelines.
“Had this case involved a single victim, the legal maximum would have been far less,” Sterling noted. “This sentence reflects the severity of a crime that, while devastating, remains disturbingly common and socially tolerated. That must change.”
Sterling added that her office continues to advocate for stronger drunk driving penalties in Maryland, calling on lawmakers in Annapolis to address legal gaps that fail to match the gravity of such offenses.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County. Corporal Dale Reppel of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, with support from the Collision Reconstruction Unit.
