Stripper sentenced in Ohio SUV dragging death

HAMILTON, OH Kristina Hensley, 35, was given the maximum sentence by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth.

Hensley, of Higginsport, pleaded guilty in February to involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop after an accident in the death last August of Jae Cho.

The judge called the autopsy photos and report detailing Cho's death "ghastly" and said the court had no choice in the sentence, given the circumstances. He said Hensley didn't just hit Cho, 31, but dragged him to a "horrible death," the Hamilton JournalNews newspaper reported.

Hensley told police Cho touched her inappropriately after she was called to perform a private show at his home in Monroe, about 25 miles north of Cincinnati. She said he jumped in front of her SUV as she fled and she didn't know he was stuck underneath it.

Police said she drove about a mile to a gas station before stopping.

Hensley originally was charged with murder, aggravated robbery, theft and failure to stop. She pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors.

Assistant prosecutor Brad Burress told The Associated Press that he was pleased with the sentence and hoped it would bring "closure" to Cho's family.

Hensley's attorneys had urged the judge to give her community control, often called probation and involving options such as community service or electronic monitoring, or to sentence her to the minimum three years in prison with credit for the 334 days served since her arrest.

They had told the judge in a memorandum that she had been the sole income provider for her three sons, ages 13, 8 and 7, and worked as a dancer because of economic hardship. They also said she didn't intend to cause Cho's death and had shown remorse.

They didn't immediately return telephone calls seeking comment on the sentencing Thursday.

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