Diabo sentenced for crash

Documents viewed by The Eastern Door have revealed the sentencing conditions faced by 20-year-old Korallee Diabo, who was charged with impaired driving causing the death of Tsótewe Stacey in a car accident in 2023.

Diabo was 18 at the time of the crash, which claimed the life of Stacey, also 18, and caused bodily harm to one other individual.

She was found guilty of charges laid against her in May of last year, and was sentenced earlier this month.

Stacey’s mother, Jolene Bear, said that the sentencing did not bring closure for her family.

“We the family are infuriated and in disbelief with the outcome of the sentence pertaining to causing the death of our Tsótewe. We feel that the justice system has failed her, her life mattered,” Bear said. “All we want is for justice to be served. We were hoping for a longer prison sentence. A lot of people are not happy and feel that Tsótewe deserves more, if rules were being followed her death would have been preventable.”

Her sentence includes a suspended prison sentence of two years minus one day, followed by three years of probationary orders with 18 months of followup.

The sentencing also includes 30 days in detention, as well as being prohibited from operating a motor vehicle for a total of 80 months.

Diabo is also prohibited from communicating directly or indirectly with Stacey’s family, including on social media, and she will also be subject to house arrest for the first 12 months. She will only be permitted to leave her house for appointments, medical treatments, or urgent reasons pre-approved by her appointed supervisor, as well as to perform her 120 hours of community service, and to purchase food or other goods and services during a four-hour period one day a week.

She is allowed to work legitimate gainful employment and permitted to pursue studies if approved by her supervisor, as well as to attend meetings with therapists, parents, or other people, also with the prior authorization of her supervisor.

After the first 12 months, Diabo will still be required to remain in her residence overnight, with similar exceptions.

She is also expected to answer all phone calls from her supervisor during her curfew and house arrest, and is not allowed to talk on the phone or use the internet for more than 15 consecutive minutes.

She is barred from using alcohol or any other intoxicating substances, and from being in bars or other places with a liquor permit unless she is eating a meal.

Additionally, Diabo must undergo cultural mentorship for the duration of her sentence.

Diabo is currently in detention and was unable to be reached for comment. Her lawyer, Adam Ginzburg, said that though he was unable to speak on his client’s behalf, he wishes Stacey’s family well.

“It was a heartbreaking case, and I just hope the family finds their peace,” said her lawyer, Adam Ginzburg. “I’m sure this has had a huge impact and effect on the community.”

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