Camarillo woman who killed 2 men in distracted driving case gets 300 days in jail

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman charged with only misdemeanors for killing two men because of distracted driving was sentenced to 300 days in county jail and three years probation in Ventura on Tuesday.

Rachel Hill was distracted by her cellphone when she hit bicyclist Maciek Malish, 53, and motorcyclist Jesse Cushman, 43, with her car last year in Moorpark.

Family and friends of the two men killed stormed out of the courtroom, some saying she got a slap on the wrist. The sentence also started an angry protest by motorcyclists, who knew Cushman.

Adam Piwowar's stepfather, Malish, was an Emmy Award winning sound editor. He worked post production on a number of TV shows, including "Lost." Piwowar said he felt many emotions over Hill's sentence.

"Anger first, frustration and then almost wanting to give up," he said.

Hill was charged with two counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, which was punishable by up to one year in county jail.

The victims' families wanted her to be charged with felonies, which would have meant sentences of more than 10 years in state prison.

"All I want is what is right for my daughter, and she is willing to take whatever punishment is given to her because she believes that justice should be served," Hill's mother, Tammy Hill, said in court.

Cushman's mother fought back tears as she warned drivers to never text and drive. She said she hopes these cases will help people get the message that texting and driving kills.

Hill is scheduled to return to Ventura County Jail to begin serving her sentence on Nov. 4.