Woman gets two years in underage-drinking death

A 34-year-old Odessa woman pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony of manslaughter and was sentenced to serve two years in prison concurrently in the Texas Department of Correctional Justice, according to court documents.

Irene Garcia, 609 Vine Ave., was accused of causing the death of a 16-year-old girl by allowing her to consume an excessive amount of alcoholic beverages on June 1, 2010, court documents stated. She pleaded guilty Monday in the 358th District Court with District Judge Bill McCoy presiding, documents stated.

Garcia also has to pay a $50 crime stoppers fee and $215 in court costs, court documents stated.

On June 1, 2010, Garcia allowed 16-year-old Lupita Martinez to consume an “excessive amount of alcoholic beverages,” an indictment stated. Ector County District Attorney said Lupita died of complications relating to alcohol poisoning. Bland also said while Garcia did not provide the beverages to her daughter and Lupita, she was aware the girls were drinking in her house and did not stop them from consuming large amounts of alcohol.

Marcos Vicente Lucero was also indicted on the same charge; however, Bland said there was not enough evidence to prove he was aware of the drinking.

Linda Deaderick was the attorney for the state, Adrian Chavez was the attorney for the defendant and Bill McCoy was the presiding judge, court documents stated.

@OAhealth