Convicted felon will not serve prison time for deadly hit and run

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A woman convicted in a hit and run death of a Wilmington moped driver last year will not spend any time behind bars.

Stephanie Marie Wells will not spend any time in prison for her crimes. Wells pleaded guilty to felony death by motor vehicle and felony hit and run in the July 2014 death of Michael Rankin.

A judge sentenced her to no more 89 months of probation. Wells was drunk when she hit Rankin in the 2600 block of Market Street just before 3:00 a.m. July 19, 2014. Wells drove home before reporting herself to authorities. Rankin died at the scene.

A blood test revealed that Wells’ blood alcohol level was .13 at the time of her arrest. Rankin’s sister Karen spoke to the court saying not a day goes by that she doesn’t think of her brother.

“She is not the only person in the world who has ever driven drunk,” Rankin said. “I mean I know that happens, the thing that hurts me the worst is that she kept going. She hit him, she let him die there on the sidewalk by himself.”

Wells’ lawyer Woody White issued a statement saying, “This was a tragic case for 2 families. in his wisdom, the judge fashioned an outcome that will ensure a lasting legacy for Mr. Rankin, in requiring Stephanie to tell her story to hundreds of young people in this community about the horrible consequences of drinking and driving.”

Wells was sentenced to 250 hours of community service where she will be required to go to local colleges and high schools and speak about her experience and urge other young people to not make the same mistakes she did and drive drunk.