Minerva man sentenced to serve 8½ to 12 years for fatal New Franklin motorcycle crash
Tears streamed down Barb Mauk's face as she recalled how her daughter's life was cut short last October after Brandt Saunders sped away from New Franklin police and crashed his motorcycle.
Saunders fled the scene on foot, leaving Mauk's 40-year-old daughter — Roseann "Rosie" Mauk — for dead.
"I will never see her or talk to her again," Mauk said Monday morning at Saunders' sentencing hearing. "It hurts so much it makes me sick."
Pleaded guilty: Man who fled fatal motorcycle crash, led New Franklin police on manhunt pleads guilty
Nearly nine months after the deadly crash, Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce sentenced the 24-year-old Saunders to eight-and-a-half to 11 years in prison plus one year in Summit County Jail.
Croce also handed down a $1,500 fine, two lifetime driver's license suspensions and up to three years of parole.
Saunders pleaded guilty in late June to aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, failure to comply with a police officer, a third-degree felony, possession of cocaine, a figth-degree felony, and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Left for dead after motorcycle crash
On Oct. 27, New Franklin police first spotted Saunders traveling on his motorcycle with Roseann Mauk at about 3 a.m. traveling roughly 90 mph along Manchester Road.
After attempting to stop the motorcycle, the pursuing officer lost sight of it when it turned west on Johns Road.
Manhunt, fatal crash: Man charged after manhunt in motorcycle crash that left Coventry woman dead in New Franklin
A short time later, officers found the motorcycle crashed at the dead end of the road. Police said Mauk was found nearby and was pronounced dead at the scene with crash-related injuries.
Police pursued Saunders into nearby woods. They arrested him using a drone and in coordination with the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
Family, friends describe life without Roseann Mauk
Family and friends spoke at an emotional sentencing hearing Monday. Each described Roseann Mauk as a loving mother, daughter and friend. They emphasized the relationships she had with her two teenage kids.
Marisa O'Brien was in shock and denial that Mauk had died, even after breaking the news to Mauk's children.
"I will never forget her little girl's screams," O'Brien said of Mauk's daughter. "She was with me for two months before being placed into foster care, with a family she never knew."
Reading a statement from Mauk's husband, O'Brien said the couple of 21 years always wanted what was best for their children. That meant focusing on school.
But when Mauk died, their 19-year-old son dropped out of college, leaving behind his ambitions to professionally play the trombone and piano.
Their daughter feels as if she has "intruded" on her foster families, said another speaker who read a statement from Mauk's daughter.
Brandt Saunders apologizes, acknowledges pain of victim's family
Saunders listened to Mauk's family and friends, looking at each of them. He pulled his eyes away only to wipe away tears and blow his nose.
Standing next to Saunders was his attorney, John Greven.
"From the very first time I met him, he has always been extremely remorseful," Greven said of his client. "Brandt knew (Mauk). He was friends with her."
Once Greven finished speaking, Saunders approached the microphone and spoke to Mauk's family and friends.
"I'm deeply sorry for the impact this had on Rosie's family. I'm deeply remorseful for the suffering that I caused her and her family," he said. "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm sorry."
Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Minerva man sentenced to 8½ to 12 years for fatal motorcycle crash
