A 48-year-old California man was sentenced Monday to five years in prison after apologizing to a Coleville woman for injuries she suffered when he pulled in front of her car on Highway 395 while he was driving drunk.
"I'm sorry," Jay Corsby said, turning to face the victim who attended the court session.
"I made a big mistake. I am sorry for your injuries and sorry about the insurance company lagging in your payments," he said.
He pleaded guilty in June to driving under the influence causing substantial bodily harm.
District Judge Michael Gibbons told Corsby, of El Dorado County, he could be eligible for parole from Nevada State Prison in two years. Corsby must pay a $2,000 fine and restitution.
Corsby's lawyer, William Heckman, said the woman's medical bills were covered by insurance, but she had not been reimbursed pending more expenses.
After the sentencing, Corsby's tearful relatives hugged the victim and apologized again for her injuries.
Corsby's sentence was recommended by the district attorney's office with input from the woman who suffered shoulder and knee injuries.
"I think that's fair," she told Gibbons. "I just hope he learned his lesson."
"Yes, ma'am, I did," Corsby said.
He faced up to 20 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He was ineligible for probation.
Corsby has no prior criminal record.
His blood-alcohol content was .137 - nearly twice the legal limit of .08 for driving in Nevada - when he pulled out of the driveway at the Topaz Lodge on Nov. 18, 2008, into the path of the victim who was driving on Highway 395.
Gibbons called the incident "egregious," but said Corsby took responsibility and was fully insured to pay the victim's expenses.
"She had a car with airbags and was wearing her seat belt. That saved her life, but she'll have to live with this for the rest of her life," Gibbons said.
"If there's any silver lining to this, at least she is receiving compensation," Gibbons said. "The majority of people sitting in your (Corsby's) place have no insurance or are under-insured."
