In a somber hearing on Tuesday, Charles W. Acy III pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI resulting in the deaths of Jevonta Dickey, 18, and Shaquan Richardson, 18.

Dickey and Richardson, both Brookhaven High students, were killed in a car accident in Brookhaven on Oct. 14, 2014, when the vehicle they were traveling in was struck by Acy’s 2003 Hummer. Acy, 19, has been in Lincoln County jail since the time of the incident.

Acy was sentenced to 25 years in prison with 15 years to serve followed by five years post-release supervision and five years suspended on each count. The sentences are to run consecutively, totaling 30 years to serve in prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, and 10 years suspended. Acy was also fined $10,000 for each count.

The sentence was the recommendation of the special assistants to the attorney general, Jim Giddy and Larry Baker.

The case was investigated by Brookhaven Police Department Commander David Johnson and attorney general public integrity investigators Ronnie Odom and Jerry Spell. Both 14th Circuit Court judges, Michael M. Taylor and David H. Strong Jr., recused themselves from the case. Circuit Court Judge Frank Vollor, who retired in 2009 from the Ninth Circuit, presided over the case in Lincoln County Circuit Court.

The mothers of Dickey and Richardson, Virginia Harris and Shirley Porter, respectively, in letters read during the hearing on their behalf asked Vollor to render the maximum sentence without suspensions or conditions.

Porter wrote: “I feel the maximum sentence should be enforced. He should be held accountable for his actions, which led to the death of two innocent young men trying to get an education with a very bright future. I lost a part of me, and he needs to lose his freedom — not to do something like this again. I pray justice will prevail. That will never stop my pain and suffering. At least he has a chance at life — something that was denied to mine.”

The potential sentence for aggravated DUI in Mississippi is five years (minimum) to 25 years (maximum) for each such injury or death, according to Mississippi Code. In Mississippi, DUI-related injury and death cases are usually punished more harshly than violent crimes that are intentionally committed.

On the sentencing, Attorney General Jim Hood said in a statement, “We greatly appreciate the hard work and support of the Brookhaven Police Department and Judge Vollor’s solid sentence.”

The parents of Dickey and Richardson present Tuesday each said they knew nothing anyone said or did could bring the boys back. This sentiment was echoed by Judge Vollor as well as Acy’s attorney, Nelson Estess, when reading a statement on behalf of Acy and his family. Friends and family of the two young men were present, filling more than half of the courtroom.

“I’d give anything to see my son walk through that door right now. Anything in this world,” said Richardson’s father, Keith Richardson, his voice stifled at times by emotion. “Because I miss him. I have to go to bed at night with his pictures surrounding my bed just to try to hold on to the memories of him. I don’t think anybody can imagine how hard this is for me. I just hope justice is served, and I hope my son’s death was not in vain.”

After Estess read the prepared statement, Acy took the opportunity to make a statement.

“I just want everybody to know I’m so sorry for all this. I wish each and every day I could take it back,” he said, his voice cracking, visibly upset. “I pray every night for both families, and I just want everybody to know I didn’t do any of this on purpose — and I’m sorry.”

Acy’s toxicology reports showed he was under the influence of marijuana and alprazolam (Xanax) at the time of the crash. Officers reported Acy was traveling over 70 mph and was at full acceleration at the time of the accident. Dickey and Richardson were on the way back from a softball game they attended for school credit, traveling in a 2008 Ford F-150 when the truck was struck in the 900 Block of Union Street. Richardson was pronounced dead on the scene, and Dickey was transported to King’s Daughters Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead, according to Deputy Coroner Ricky Alford.

After Judge Vollor determined Acy’s sentence, he said he felt compelled to make an additional statement.

“I would encourage the families to seek solace in God, and I would encourage Mr. Acy to do the same thing. I visit the prisons regularly with a group of Christian men, Chiro, to bring Christ to the prisons. They are the devil’s workshop. They are hell on Earth and, Mr. Acy, I encourage you to try to cling to the Lord in prison.”