Woman pleads guilty to DUI in fatal Crosstown crash

The woman charged with drunken driving in a wreck that killed a mother and seriously injured her young daughter on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway two years ago pleaded guilty in court today.

Cheryl Maria Riemann, 26, of Ruskin, was traveling the wrong way on the toll road when she smashed head-on into a car driven by Jennifer O'Boyle on Sept. 10, 2008. O'Boyle was killed and her daughter, Summer Moll, then 4, was injured.

Riemann has been in jail since then awaiting trial and entered her plea in open court today. She pleaded guilty to driving under the influence manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury and three misdemeanor DUI counts. She faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and five years on the bodily injury count.

Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet scheduled Riemann's sentencing for Oct. 27.

The pleas avert what could have been a lengthy trial that was slated to start Monday.

Tammy Rosian, Summer's grandmother, was glad the family could avoid the ordeal of a trial. "I'm very happy the way things went today," she said.

Rosian had asked Assistant State Attorney Barbara Coleman to ask Sleet that Summer be present at the sentencing. Children are normally not allowed into courtrooms.

"I want to show her (Riemann) what she's done to her (Summer)," she said. "I want it to haunt her (Riemann)."

Rosian talked with State Attorney Mark Ober on Tuesday and objected to any plea deal with Riemann.

Although prosecutors won't make any sentencing recommendations for Riemann, state law required them to drop a vehicular homicide and a reckless driving count in exchange for the guilty plea.

Riemann entered her plea in a clear and firm voice. At the end of the required questions by Sleet, she appeared to wipe tears from her eyes.

Rosian was unsure of Riemann's remorse.

"We haven't heard anything from her," she said. "She can't bring back what I lost and what Summer has went through."

Stephen Diaco, the family's attorney, sat with them throughout the hearing and was by Rosian's side when she talked with reporters.

Summer, now 6, spent months in recovery with casts on both arms, pins in both legs and a neck brace. She underwent multiple operations at Tampa General Hospital and is recuperating with her maternal grandparents, who described her as being "broken from head to toe."

Rosian said she doubts Summer comprehends what is happening with the court case because of her age and the brain injuries she suffered. But Rosian said she is saving everything about it for when Summer is old enough and can understand.

Rosian has been very active speaking against drunk driving since her daughter's death.

"This wasn't an accident," she said. "This was something she chose to do."

Rosian said the family decided it had to watch Riemann plead guilty.

"I had to see it," she said. "I needed to see her to have a little bit of peace."