UPDATE: The sentence for Sandy Nicole Deleon, a Lake Charles woman convicted of vehicular homicide, has been vacated yet again. This critical decision was made on October 27, 2025, by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, which found significant issues with the initial sentencing process.
Deleon had originally pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide following a tragic two-vehicle crash on March 17, 2019, on Interstate 10. The accident resulted in the death of her unrestrained passenger, Ricky Broussard, who was ejected from the vehicle. At the time of the crash, authorities reported that Deleon was driving under the influence, with a blood alcohol content of .192.
Initially sentenced on February 7, 2022, to 30 years in the Department of Corrections—with 15 years suspended and a strict probationary period—Deleon has faced numerous legal complications surrounding her sentence. She was required to pay $2,000 in fines, complete 480 hours of community service, and wear an electronic monitoring device while on probation.
“The trial court did not specify how much community service was required for prevention or how extra credit could be earned,” the 3rd Circuit noted in their decision.
After Deleon appealed the initial sentence, the court agreed to vacate it, leading to a resentencing where her community service hours were reduced to 300 hours, with specific guidelines for DWI prevention. However, during this resentencing, the court upheld the electronic monitoring requirement, which has now been contested again by Deleon.
The 3rd Circuit Court ruled that while electronic monitoring is permissible, the trial court must explicitly define the conditions associated with it. This ruling has necessitated another remand to the trial court for resentencing, leaving Deleon’s future in legal limbo.
This ongoing saga underscores the complexities of the legal system and the intense emotional toll on the victims’ families. As the case garners public attention, many are questioning the fairness of the judicial process and its implications for those impacted by impaired driving.
As developments unfold, the community and the victim’s family are left to grapple with the implications of this vacated sentence. The next steps in this case will be critical as it heads back to the trial court, and the potential for further appeals looms large.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as the legal ramifications could have lasting effects on the community and the families involved.
