COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was an emotional day in Logan County court Tuesday as Briana Mohler learned her sentence exactly four months after the crash that killed 17-year-old Chloe Hodge.
The courtroom was filled with Chloe’s family and her friends from Indian Lake High School.
At one point more chairs had to be brought into the courtroom and people spilled over into the jury box. Most of them wore lavender shirts representing the “Chloe Effect,” which her family has said represents Chloe’s compassion and giving during her 17 years.
Mohler, 33, was walked into the courtroom in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. She was visibly crying throughout most of the sentencing hearing.
On January 28, Mohler was behind the wheel of a pickup truck and crossed the centerline, hitting Chloe head-on. Mohler admitted to using drugs the night of the crash. Mohler has a previous history of drug addiction stretching back several years.
Eight people Chloe knew spoke to the court before the sentencing, including her mother and stepfather.
“That day you put so many people in danger and you killed my daughter Chloe. I understand addiction is a powerful thing, but my daughter did not want to be a part of your addiction,” said Breanna Baier, Chloe’s mother. “I feel like I’m behind bars and I’ve done nothing wrong. You have imprisoned me to a lifetime of grief and sorrow for what you did.”
To both parents, they said no sentence would take away the pain they have after losing their daughter.
“My life has been shattered since that day. I no longer have good days and bad days. I have OK days and terrible days,” said Brady Baier, Chloe’s stepfather. “I hope today is the last day I think about you, but I hope you think about Chloe Lynn Hodge every day that you have left.”
Multiple times, Mohler could be heard weeping in the courtroom. One of the most prominent times was when her own mother spoke to the court and to her victim’s family.
“If this would have happened to one of Chloe’s friends instead of Chloe, would she sit here and want the maximum sentence on somebody?” asked Denise Arnold, Mohler’s mother.
That question was met with a shouted “yes” and scoffs from people in the courtroom. Logan County Judge Kevin Braigg called for order several times during Arnold's statement. Mohler buried her face in her hands and could be heard pleading for her mother to stop speaking.
Mohler’s brother-in-law, Leroy Oakley, was one of the few in her family who spoke that didn’t call for a lesser sentence. Instead, he offered her stern words of disappointment at what she had done.
“This is the bed that you’ve made and you’re going to lay in it. As a father, I give props to the men who are behind these railings, because I don’t know if I could stay on that side,” Oakley said. “We can place it on a lot of things, but that day you made a choice and that choice has impacted many people.”
After everyone else had spoken to the court, Mohler was given her opportunity. She stood in tears, asking for the family’s forgiveness.
“Chloe will live with me for the rest of my life and she will be the motivation I cling to to help others to wake up and find God sooner and hopefully prevent this tragedy from ever happening again,” she cried. “I know sorry will never be enough, but I hope one day you will be able to forgive me and I may be able to forgive myself as well.”
Judge Braigg sentenced Mohler to the maximum sentence of 11 to 16.5 years in prison. The maximum for aggravated vehicular homicide is 11 years. With Ohio’s indefinite sentencing law, the prison parole authorities could impose an additional 5.5 years.
Judge Braigg also said that Mohler was in his courtroom two weeks before the fatal crash. She was pleading guilty to another drug crime. He said he could have kept her in jail until her sentencing, but instead let her walk free.
In that time, she caused the crash that killed Chloe. Judge Braigg said he is still living with that decision.
Along with her prison sentence, Mohler will permanently lose her legal driving privileges.