A Mars woman who was called a “selfish drunken driver” prayed for forgiveness Tuesday, Dec. 19, before she was sentenced to serve five to 10 years in prison for killing a Clinton Township man in a June crash.

Julie Ellen Parison, 51, was given a mandatory 60- to 120-month state prison sentence as well as probation and a fine after she pleaded guilty in Common Pleas Court to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol in the death of Kevin McAtee and her second DUI offense.

McAtee was 61 when he died from his injuries after the June 6 crash at the intersection of Route 8 and Litman Road in Butler Township.

In an emotional victim impact statement, Karen McAtee said her late husband Kevin was the father of four sons, a stepfather to her children and a grandfather. She said they had been married for five years.

He was the family provider, the only stable father figure in her children’s lives and his 86-year-old mother’s caregiver, she said.

She said they enjoyed traveling and hosting family events, and had big plans for their future together.

On the day he was killed, they had just finished planting flowers at his late wife’s grave, she said.

“You chose to be a selfish drunken driver,” Karen said.

She said Parison deserves the maximum penalty, but it wouldn’t be enough.

“Never forget the name Kevin D. McAtee,” she implored as she stood in front of nine family members seated in the jury box facing Parison, who was sentenced remotely from the county prison.

“Saying I’m sorry isn’t enough,” Parison said while crying. “It’s just a nightmare. I should have never drove that day.”

She said she wishes could take back what she did.

“I pray to Jesus that I’m forgiven,” Parison said.

Judge Kelley Streib also ordered Parison to serve 60 months of probation after her release from prison for the homicide by vehicle charge and concurrently serve 90 days to 60 months in prison and pay a $1,500 fine for the DUI charge. Butler Township police filed the charges.