Poway

A drunk driver who killed a 9-year-old boy in Poway was sentenced Thursday to eight years in state prison.

Sammy Lee Hair, 33, of Poway, received the maximum sentence from San Diego Municipal Court Judge J. Richard Haden in a courtroom crowded with spectators, including the parents of Joshua Jones, who was killed July 8.

“You can’t imagine how horrifying it is to bury your child and know that the one who did this wouldn’t go to jail for more than the age of my child!” testified Jeanette Jones, the mother of the victim.

“He’ll do four years with good behavior. Where’s Joshua’s time for good behavior?” said the mother.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Steve Anear told the judge that Hair, who had been drinking, hit another car and was fleeing at 70 m.p.h. through Poway when he struck Joshua, who was riding a bicycle.

Last month, Hair pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. In court Thursday, he apologized to the parents, saying he was an alcoholic. “I can’t begin to say how sorry I am . . . I was feeling a lot of stress. It’s not common for me to drink and drive,” Hair said.

Hair’s attorney asked the judge to either place him on probation or order a prison study to be made of Hair. Haden denied both requests.