Cody Wolfram received 21 years in prison on Tuesday in Buchanan County Circuit Court for killing two people and injuring two others during an April 5, 2008, car wreck.

The 26-year-old Savannah man had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit when he ran a stop sign in his Mazda 6 at 22nd and Commercial streets. He then crashed into a Ford truck driven by Brandie McCoy.

Ms. McCoy was the lone occupant wearing a seat belt and the only one to not suffer serious, physical injuries. Nicole Neudorff broke her neck, while the crash killed Matthew Darr, 23, and Adonis White, 21, both of Chillicothe, Mo.

Mr. Wolfram pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault in July. Judge Dan Kellogg sentenced him to eight years for each manslaughter charge and five years for the first assault charge, to be served consecutively. The judge ordered that the second count of assault, a five-year sentence, be served at the same time as the previous three counts.

“Hopefully this will begin to bring closure to your lives,” Mr. Kellogg told the victims’ families and friends, drawing on the same theme of forgiveness in his comments that he used in a vehicular involuntary manslaughter case from the week before.

Megan Schueler, the prosecutor from the state attorney general’s office, asked for at least 20 years, arguing that Mr. Wolfram’s driving record indicated he was aggressive behind the wheel.

Defense attorney Hugh Kranitz requested 12 years for the manslaughter charges and a suspended imposition of the assault sentences. In return, Mr. Kranitz suggested his client adhere to all the requirements of probation and be required to enter into a restorative justice program with all members of the victims’ families who chose to attend.

Mr. Kranitz asked the judge to take into account that all four passengers were in the front seat, three not wearing seat belts. He suggested the driver’s testimony indicated she tried to beat Mr. Wolfram’s car through the intersection.

“The court needs to take into consideration that (Mr. Wolfram) has accepted responsibility in this case,” said Mr. Kranitz, who added his client turned himself in, opted for jail instead of bond and pleaded guilty.

Mr. Darr’s mother, Rita, addressed the court prior to the sentence.

“You made a choice. It wasn’t no accident,” Ms. Darr said, addressing Mr. Wolfram. “My life will never be the same.

“It’s murder. The same if he had a gun in his hand.”

Adonis White’s mother, Tina, addressed the court through a sign language interpreter. “My son had two beautiful daughters who need their father,” she signed. “He should never be allowed to drive again.”

In a brief statement, Mr. Wolfram told the court, “I understand the crime I did was horrible and irresponsible. ... I’m not saying I shouldn’t be punished. I’m just asking forgiveness from the families.”

Sheriff Mike Strong, four of his deputies, two St. Joseph police officers and two other law enforcement officials dispersed themselves throughout the courtroom, keeping the potentially combustible proceedings peaceful. The sentencing was moved from Division 4’s courtroom into Division 3 to accommodate the large crowd, which occupied every bit of its six benches.

The officers made everyone wait for Mr. Wolfram to exit the courtroom before letting the victims’ families and friends leave. Deputies held Mr. Wolfram in a side room for a few minutes while the courthouse rotunda cleared.

Then, while the Darr family gave TV interviews and discussed the result, deputies quietly took Mr. Wolfram down the elevator and out the back door. As deputies escorted Mr. Wolfram past Ms. White, who sat on a bench on the first floor of the courthouse, she stared at the floor and quietly wiped away tears.

R.J. Cooper can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com