A 33-year-old man who had been dozing off after coming down from smoking ice was sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison yesterday for recklessly driving a car that hit a woman walking along Diamond Head Road in 2004.

Andres Paredes was found guilty of manslaughter when he earlier pleaded no contest in deciding not to challenge the charge of killing Barbara "Bobby" Gallicchio, a 76-year-old Waikiki resident. She was struck from behind while walking near Diamond Head lighthouse about 5 a.m. March 12, 2004.

Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario said his only options were placing Paredes on probation and giving him a jail term of up to one year or the maximum 20-year prison term. He indicated a jail term would not be enough in view of the death, but also said 20 years might be "excessive."

The judge, however, said it will be up to the Hawai'i Paroling Authority to determine when to release Paredes on parole.

City Deputy Prosecutor Franklin Pacarro said the sentence was fair. He said his office will later determine what minimum prison term to recommend to the paroling authorities.

According to the prosecution, Paredes had been smoking ice and became tired, but he feared if he went to sleep, authorities would find a shotgun in the car.

Paredes was recently sentenced to a 16-month federal prison term related to the shotgun recovered from the car.

The state prison term will run the same time as the federal sentence.