Eight years given for vehicular homicide, DUI

EPHRATA — The man responsible for the death of 1-year-old Savanna Schooler, of Soap Lake, in January was sentenced to more than eight years in prison.

Douglas McGowan, 39, Spokane, pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide and one count of assault in the third degree, in Grant County Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge John Antosz sentenced him to eight years and four months in prison. McGowan’s prior convictions for assault and drug possession changed the sentencing range available to Antosz. The judge added six months to Deputy Prosecutor Ed Owens recommendation for sentencing.

McGowan was driving a 1985 GMC pickup truck in the northbound land of state Route 17 when he allegedly crossed the center line, according to a Washington State Patrol report.

Leon C. Schooler, 35, Soap Lake, was driving in the southbound lane and swerved his 2001 Pontiac coupe into the opposite lane to avoid McGowan.

McGowan turned toward the southbound lane, colliding with Schooler’s car, according to the police report.

Savanna Schooler was killed and Leon Schooler received multiple broken bones, head and internal injuries from the crash.

McGowan received minor lacerations.

After his arrest, McGowan told police he drank three beers at a Soap Lake bar before he started driving home. Tests showed the Spokane man had a blood-alcohol level of 0.134, according to the police report. The legal limit is a 0.08 blood-alcohol level.

Prosecutors stated McGowan was on probation for driving under the influence in Spokane in 2006. He was temporarily employed as a contractor at REC Silicon.

McGowan was defended by attorney John Perry.