A judge sent a 29-year-old Oak Harbor businessman to prison Monday.

A jury found Raymond Prokop guilty last month of vehicular homicide in the death of 29-year-old Molly Rice Feb. 24, 2006.

Judge Alan Hancock sentenced Prokop, an Oak Harbor High School graduate, to two years in prison, which is in the middle of the standard sentencing range.

“The primary consideration in this case,” Hancock said, “is that Ms. Rice died. She left behind a loving husband and many others who care about her.”

Rice’s husband, Terrance Rice of Oak Harbor, wrote a letter, both touching and angry, asking the judge to give Prokop the maximum sentence. He described his wife as a caring woman who worked with the elderly in assisted living.

“It absolutely devastated her every time one of them passed away,” he wrote. “I said to her so many times, ‘Molly why don’t you find a different job’ and she would always simply say ‘who will love these people if I leave?’”

Prokop didn’t apologize at the sentencing, but he did express regret. While he understands that Rice’s husband suffered a great loss, Prokop said he also lost an important friend.

“This incident haunts me. It will haunt me for the rest of my life…” he said. “If there’s anything I could do to bring her back, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

Prokop was speeding in a 2005 Nissan 350Z and lost control at a curve on Reservation Road on North Whidbey. The car struck a power pole and Rice, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car. She died at the scene.

Prokop’s attorney, Charles Hamilton of Seattle, argued that the sentence should be dramatically reduced because Rice wasn’t belted in. Also, he said she was a “willing participant” because she voluntarily went along on a high-speed ride through the county without a seat belt on.

He suggested a metaphor: “Two people playing Russian roulette with the same bullet.”

On the other side, Chief Criminal Deputy Andrea Vingo argued that Prokop should receive a top-of-the-range sentence of two years and three months in prison. She pointed out that part of Prokop’s defense was the seat belt issue, which she said proves he hasn’t taken responsibility.

“It makes me sick that he’s still arguing that she’s at fault for not wearing a seat belt,” Vingo said.

Hancock sided with the prosecution on this issue. He emphasized over and over that state law says the seat belt issue is irrelevant, Rice was not at fault, and the lack of a seat belt doesn’t diminish Prokop’s culpability.

Hamilton told Hancock that the civil lawsuit has been settled. Terrance Rice sued Prokop and his parents for wrongful death.

Also, Hamilton said he plans to appeal his client’s conviction.

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.