Isaac Holdsambeck during his youthful offender hearing May 10, 2012 (The Huntsville Times/Robin Conn)HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Isaac Holdsambeck was sentenced to a year in the Madison County Jail and two years probation for a post-prom wreck in 2010 that killed a Huntsville High School sophomore.
Mohammad Fulladi, 16, died from injuries suffered in the wreck. Holdsambeck's blood alcohol level was reported at .15, following the crash, nearly twice the legal limit.
Before Judge Dennis O'Dell sentenced Holdsambeck, Azita Jaini, Mohammad Fulladi's mother, was given a chance to speak.
Standing with her son, Ali Fulladi, Jaini spoke tearfully about the pain of losing her son. Her remarks were directed at Holdsambeck, but she faced the judge.
"I want everyone to know how much this incident has affected our lives," she said. "We have always been a happy family, until you caused the death of my Mohammad. You took the happiness away from our family because you wanted to have a good night. So you go out and drink and drive."
The courtroom was packed with friends and family members, but there was only silence as she spoke.
"With two years and four months gone, our pain has increased, we miss him more than ever," she said. "You are not losing anything in this situation, yes, you will go to prison, but after you serve your time, you will be out and living your life again. Your mother can hug you and kiss you, but I will never be able to hold my Mohammad ever again. We will never be able to laugh with him or just see the joy on his face."
Holdsambeck, 21, was charged with reckless murder, but he was granted youthful offender status in May. Under Alabama's youthful offender law, Holdsambeck's maximum sentence would have been three years in prison. Holdsambeck did not speak today, but he did express remorse at the youthful offender hearing.
He was 19 at the time of the 4:30 a.m., May 2, 2010, wreck in Hampton Cove that killed Fulladi and left three other teens injured on Hampton Cove Way. The wreck happened the morning after the Huntsville High prom. Police said Holdsambeck's truck was traveling nearly 100 mph before it struck four trees and all five teens were ejected from the vehicle.
Jaini said that her son had asked to be let out of the vehicle before the accident.
Madison County Assistant District Attorney Jason Scully-Clemmons called it a tragic case.
"There's really nothing we as an office can do to make a situation like this any better," he said. "But we try and seek a measure of justice. We hope the family can move on from here. I hope Mr. Holdsambeck comes to realize the magnitude of what happened."
Holdsambeck's attorney Phil Price said Holdsambeck has admitted wrongdoing and asked forgiveness for his actions.
"These cases are so traumatic for the victim's family and for the defendant," Price said. "It is a great American tragedy, prom night and graduation night accidents."