A Kentucky woman convicted in the death of an Ironton man was recommended for parole -- and the man’s family did not fight it.

Dorothy Bryan of Rush, Ky. has served two years of a five-year sentence for reckless homicide in the death of Albert Tomondi.

In November 1999, Bryan was driving the wrong way on a one-way street while intoxicated when her car collided with Tomondi’s. Tomondi was criticaly injured and died at Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va. three days later.

Bryan pleaded guilty in May 2000 and has been serving her sentence in the Boone County Jail in Burlington, Ky., where she is presently incarcerated.

"I’m trying not to think about it," said Lori Lewis, Tomondi’s daughter. "It was inevitable, so we’re trying to accept it."

Bryan has received one year and eight months of statutory and meritorious good time, and offenders in Kentucky normally get 20-25 percent of their sentences shortened because of statutory good time, said Pamela Trautner, communications director for the Kentucky Justice Cabinet.

The family did not try to fight Bryan’s parole because if parole was denied this time, she would eventually be released with no supervision, said Terri Tomondi, another daughter of Albert Tomondi’s.

"Sometime between January and May, she would have walked free," she said. "This way, she will have supervision."

While on parole, Bryan cannot drive a motor vehicle, must have job and home placement must pay $100 at the rate of $10 a month to the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund, and seek substance abuse evaluation, Trautner said.

Until she has job and home placement, Bryan will remain in jail until March 25, 2003, Trautner added. If those details are worked out, she will be on parole until Nov. 25, 2004.

"We all have to move on," said Ms. Tomondi. "She [Bryan] deserves a chance to redeem herself. I believe justice was served."

"What price is enough?" she added. "What is justice for taking a life?"

Bryan declined to comment. Amelia Pridemore/The Ironton Tribune