Britnee Moore of 135 W. Lincoln St., standing beside her attorney, showed no emotion when the verdicts were read shortly after 2 p.m., perhaps in response to an admonition given minutes earlier by Judge William Nalitz.
Nalitz said there were people in the courtroom who loved Hope Maley, and there were people who loved Britnee Moore, and there were people who perhaps loved both of them. "But there will be no outbursts," he said.
"This courtroom is a place of reason and decorum and not a place for emotion," Nalitz said.
The courtroom might not have been a place for emotion, but the jury deliberation room certainly was.
One juror, who did not want to be identified, said the whole experience "was gut-wrenching."
The juror said there was some initial debate about the element of reckless endangerment, one of the three charges of which Moore was convicted.
"There was really no debate about guilt; we all agreed she was guilty of something," the juror said.
But what convinced the jury to convict Moore was the evidence that the defendant crossed the center line, was reaching for her cell phone and was driving at a high speed, "elements that caused the death of Hope Maley."
The juror also said once the decisions were reached on the verdicts, "there wasn't a dry eye in the room."
Moore was accused of driving at a high speed on Route 218. While allegedly reaching for a cell phone, she crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a car driven by Maley, 16.
"The verdict sends a message to pay attention to the road," said District Attorney Marjorie Fox, who prosecuted the case.
"If not for the actions of Britnee Moore, both families would have been spared this. What this case demonstrates is what can occur when the rules of the road are not followed or obeyed," she said.
Mike Bigley, Moore's attorney, said he respects the verdict of the jury but was disappointed it did not see the defense's theory. He did not elaborate.
Bigley was asked how Moore was holding up after the verdict, and he said, "I think she has taken responsibility for the actions the jury held her accountable for, and I hope this can be the beginning of a healing process."
Meanwhile, Darlene Maley, mother of the victim, said, "I just want people to know Hope's life matters, and we were praying for justice. The jury saw the truth, and I am praying for all the truth to be revealed."
Nalitz continued Moore's $25,000 percentage bond, and he instructed the county's adult probation office to prepare a pre-sentence report to be completed in 30 days.