Two women accused of driving their car into a crowd outside of an LGBT party were sentenced to prison time last week.
Judge Benjamin Lerner handed down multiyear sentences and fines to Sharonda Cheeves, 24, and Jesslyn Williams, 23, Feb. 16 for their involvement in the September 2010 melee outside the Breakfast Club in North Philadelphia, in which 27-year-old Alisha Moore was killed.
The Sept. 4 incident arose after Cheeves and Williams were barred from entering the party, popular with the house/ballroom community, that was held that night at Club Motivation on North Eighth Street.
The pair reportedly punched a security guard and was escorted to their car several times.
However, around 4:30 a.m., they returned to the club in their Chevy Monte Carlo, which they proceeded to drive into the crowd assembled outside, hitting more victims each time they circled the block.
Williams drove the first three rounds but Cheeves was behind the wheel the fourth and final time, when Moore was struck.
Six other individuals were also injured, including club owner Kadella Davis, who was hospitalized for nearly a month with extensive broken bones.
Cheeves pleaded guilty in December to vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, aggravated assault and other charges. Williams pleaded guilty to simple and aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, accident involving death and DUI as well as other charges.
Lerner sentenced Cheeves to four to eight years in prison and a $1,000 fine, while Williams was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 and serve two to four years.
When released, Cheeves will serve two years of probation and Williams will serve three.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].