Daetwan Robinson sentenced: 20 years in prison for fatal crash
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee County judge sentenced Daetwan Robinson on Friday afternoon, June 25 to 20 years in prison for a crash that killed two young sisters and injured their cousin on Milwaukee's north side in October 2019.
"It’s pretty clear to me that saving your own skin was much more important than what happened to these young children," said Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz.
Daetwan Robinson
The judge called Robinson's actions that October day reckless, irresponsible, and only taking responsibility when face with insurmountable evidence against him.
Robinson pleaded guilty in March of this year to three counts of felony hit-and-run in the crash. As part of a plea negotiation, the court dismissed but will read in six additional charges related to the incident.
Four-year-old Amea Gee and 6-year-old Alisa Gee died from injuries suffered in the crash near 22nd and Center on Oct. 24, 2019. The sisters' cousin, 10-year-old Drevyze Rayford was hurt.
Amea and Alisa Gee
The three children were walking home when a driver -- identified as Robinson -- ran a red light and struck all three children before driving away.
Video of the children seen skipping from a nearby playground was played in court on Friday – as was the moment they were hit.
"Those children go flying up in the air, like they’re practically weightless," the judge said.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz
"They was babies. They was babies. They was my babies. I still live every day like it’s nothing," said Destiny Foster, the mother of Amea and Alisa.
Robinson is the son of a leader of the community group, BLOC – and an ambassador with no criminal history. There were a number of letters in Robinson's support submitted to the court. His brothers spoke on his behalf. So did family friends, who spoke about Robinson's character.
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"He made a mistake. And he owns that now. And I truly hope that he will not be judged by his darkest hour but by the many, many hours before," said Shar Borg, a friend of the family.
"I’m very sorry for what I did. It was wrong, stupid…wasn’t right," Robinson told the court prior to sentencing.
Before the sentencing hearing, the courtroom gallery was cleared after an argument between the two families. It was cleared a second time as the video of the crash was played – and a third time during sentencing.
"Quite frankly, your sentence would have been higher. The reason you’re getting 20 years instead of 25 or 30, has to do solely with statements made on your behalf – and what is I see as your potential," the judge said.