A Schofield Barracks soldier was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison after he was convicted of driving drunk and speeding on the H-2 Freeway in April 2003 and getting into a crash that killed a fellow soldier.

Circuit Judge Steve Alm rejected the defense's request to place Jesse Williams II, 21, on probation. Deputy Public Defender Walter Rodby told Alm that Williams has been a model citizen and soldier since the incident and would like to continue serving the country.

Williams was set to be deployed to Iraq on Dec. 8, but likely will be discharged from the Army if he serves any prison time, Rodby said. He said the Army was willing to allow Williams to remain in the service despite a felony conviction if he were placed on probation.

"Except for this momentary lapse in judgment, Mr. Williams has led what has been an exemplary life," Rodby said.

From November 2003 to November 2004, Williams served in Iraq. When he returned, he turned himself in to police to face the charges, Rodby said.

Deputy Prosecutor Marvin Rampey argued that Williams' blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit when the accident occurred and that Williams admitted driving between 98 and 120 mph. The crash occurred about a half-mile south of Ka Uka Boulevard near Waipi'o Gentry on April 5, 2003, and killed Marquel Roberts, 23.

Williams and Roberts were returning from Waikiki where they had been drinking when Williams saw a car filled with girls. Williams admitted speeding to try to keep up with the other car when the crash occurred.

Rampey said that all of Williams' good deeds since the accident won't bring Roberts back. Rampey added that being in the Army should have no bearing on whether Williams goes to prison.

"Just because he's in the military now, doesn't give him a get-out-of-jail-free card," Rampey said.

In a brief statement in court, Williams apologized for the accident.

"There's nothing that I can do to take that away," Williams said. He asked Alm to show him mercy and to allow him to continue with his life.

But Alm said the sentence "must reflect the seriousness of the offense" and he denied the probation request.

"If the Army wants to keep you on as a soldier, that is their business. That isn't going to determine what this court does," Alm said. "You did kill one person, you could have killed a lot more on that day, Mr. Williams."

Alm did use his discretion and sentenced Williams as a youthful offender. The law allows young adult offenders to receive reduced sentences if they have no prior felony conviction and do not have an offense on their juvenile record that would have been considered a felony had it been committed as an adult.

A negligent homicide conviction carries a maximum 10 years in prison.

Rodby said he did not ask the judge to sentence Williams as a youthful offender because he was seeking probation. Williams initially was charged with manslaughter, which carries a 20-year prison term, but a jury found him guilty on the lesser negligent homicide charge.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.