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ARIZONA NEWS

Mother who drove pickup truck through park sentenced to 10 years

A mother who drove a pickup truck through a Peoria park full of children was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced.

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PHOENIX — A mother who drove a pickup truck through a Peoria park full of children was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced on Saturday.

Brandie Gotch, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault for the incident that occurred in February 2024.

“This could’ve been a much more tragic situation,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a release. “Thankfully, the worst injury in this was a sprained ankle and some bad scrapes and bruises.

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“Even when angry or frustrated, it’s up to adults to act like adults. It is never okay to take our rage out on a kid.”

Details behind Peoria park incident

Gotch arrived at the park to pick up her kids when the incident took place, as her two kids were apparently fighting with nearby kids egging them on.

After she retrieved her kids and as they were walking back to the truck, a child on the playground called the mom “a name,” according to authorities. She went over to the child and pulled him by his hair before chasing another child with a stick after they also called her “a name.”

Once back in the truck, the second child stayed behind the truck, mocking her and dancing. He then went to his 12-year-old sister.

Gotch then backed out of her parking space, revved her vehicle and drove right at the pair. The boy was able to get out of the way but the sister’s leg was run over.

She then drove through the park — where more than a dozen children were playing — before heading home, where she was later arrested.

Damon Allred KTAR.com editor

Damon Allred is a web editor for KTAR.com and serves as the Arizona State reporter and a web editor for ArizonaSports.com. Born and raised in the Valley, Damon has lived in the metro Phoenix area for most of his life. He began covering ASU in fall… Read more

Comments

10 Comments

T
TopCat Truths 1 year ago

They give murdering illegals less time.

Clark
Clark 1 year ago

Ten years? What a lousy lawyer she had.

C
Carlboy 1 year ago

I won't forget that story some years ago of an Arizona man in his late 80s or early 90s, who lived in a trailer court and his next-door neighbor continually harassed him by playing loud music. The older man fatally shot the neighbor, and the court showed him no mercy like they do the repetitive criminals they love. The older man died in prison. it seems the Courts and the Government only "persecute" those in the "herd." They could care less about the real criminals and want to make an example of average people.