BOWLING GREEN, Mo. – A courtroom was in tears Friday as a DUI defendant was sentenced for a crash that took the life of an innocent sheriff’s deputy.

David Case, 37, is headed to prison after being sentenced to 12 and ½ years. His DUI crash killed Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Tucker, who many called “Tuck.”

Sheriff Rick Harrell attended the sentencing.

“It was tough just to be present in there, but I was proud to be there for the family and for Tuck,” Harrell said.

Tucker’s widow read a statement that left people in the courtroom sobbing. She handed FOX 2 her statement after, saying she could not talk on camera about her loss.

Donna Marie Tucker said her 60-year-old husband survived combat overseas—and was finally home to stay. 

They’d just made plans to buy a new home and Donna said they’d planned to ride together on his Harley that July 2023 day when she stayed behind to work on their new home plans. 

He was hit head-on by the defendant’s case just a few miles away.

“He was a very colorful human being. He lived a great life,” Harrell added.

Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood shared his thoughts on the sentencing with FOX 2.

“It’s part of the tougher instances you deal with as a prosecutor.”

Wood’s office asked for 15 years in prison. The defense asked for 10. 

Judge David Mobly, however, sentenced right down the middle at 12 and ½ years.

“What I appreciated from the judge is that he outlined all of the chances that David Case had—and didn’t take,” Wood said.

A repeat offender starting at age 17, the judge pointed out that Case received past breaks that did not seem to help. 

Defense attorney Chris Lozano asked for mercy based on the Case’s troubled family life and alcoholism.

Lozano was also visibly touched by the victim as he said, “It was heart wrenching you know and for myself as an attorney. I’m certainly human. I think justice was given. I think it was an appropriate sentence under the circumstance.”

Wood added, “There will be chances for him in the Department of Corrections—to turn his life around because we recognize substance abuse is an issue, but at the same time there has to be justice.”

Justice—as Steven Tucker’s widow struggles through another day without him.