Circuit Judge H. Steven DeBerry IV sentenced Ashner Nelson to 35 years in prison after a Dorchester County jury convicted her of two counts of felony DUI resulting in the deaths of 17-year-olds Samuel Oliveira and Joseph DaSilva. Evidence at trial showed Nelson's blood alcohol content was .245 and the collision occurred at an estimated 103 mph, producing forces estimated at about 62 g. The defense argued an alternate scenario in which another person had been driving and Nelson had no memory of the crash, but jurors rejected that theory. Sentencing on two reckless-homicide counts was withheld pending a state Supreme Court ruling.
Mother Sentenced To 35 Years After Drunk-Driving Crash Killed Two 17-Year-Olds
Ellen de Oliveira, cousin of Samuel Oliveira, comforts his father, Wander de Oliveira, and worship pastor Aaron Bradley as family and friends of Joseph DaSilva and Samuel Oliveria react as family deliver statements to the judge prior to the sentencing on the guilty verdict for Ashner Nelson at her trial for reckless homicide and felony driving under the influence at the Dorchester County Courthouse, Friday, July 31, 2026, in St. George. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff
ST. GEORGE — A Dorchester County judge on July 31 sentenced 31-year-old Ashner Nelson to a total of 35 years in prison after a jury found her responsible for a high-speed, alcohol-related crash that killed two 17-year-old boys.
Circuit Judge H. Steven DeBerry IV ordered two consecutive 17.5-year terms tied to the deaths of Samuel Oliveira and Joseph DaSilva. A Dorchester County jury convicted Nelson of two counts of felony DUI resulting in death; sentencing on two reckless-homicide counts was withheld because of a state Supreme Court ruling affecting those charges.
‘Oftentimes … we have to attempt to quantify a person's life with a dollar value. Certainly any sentence, more than any dollar value, can't quantify a person's life. We don't have a dollar value here,'
DeBerry said he aimed to be fair to everyone involved as he imposed the sentence.
Crash Details and Evidence
Prosecutors presented evidence that Nelson's blood alcohol content tested at .245, more than three times the legal limit, and that her vehicle struck the teenagers' red BMW at an estimated speed of about 103 mph. North Charleston police estimated the impact would have subjected occupants to roughly 62 g-forces, underscoring the violence of the collision.
Testimony described Nelson's evening before the wreck: starting after 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, she visited several bars in the Summerville and North Charleston area and posted to Snapchat during the night. Witnesses said she consumed more than half a dozen drinks, primarily liquor, and at least one shot at the Blue Note Bistro.
Defense Theory and Courtroom Moments
Defense attorney Derrick Mobley advanced alternative explanations for Nelson's injuries and position under and behind the steering wheel. He suggested another person may have been driving and that Nelson, who was not wearing a seat belt, could have been returning from the passenger seat at the moment of impact. Mobley also emphasized that Nelson said she has no memory of the crash.
Officer Travis Smith testified that, given the force of the impact, it was unlikely someone could have been moved into the driver's position post-collision and walked away uninjured, a point prosecutors used to counter the defense theory.
Victims and Aftermath
Family members described Samuel Oliveira and Joseph DaSilva as inseparable friends who loved soccer and their church community in Goose Creek; they had been returning from a soccer game and were due to attend a church retreat the next night. Emotions ran high in the courtroom when the jury returned guilty verdicts and when the sentence was announced. Nelson, who used a wheelchair during much of the proceedings due to injuries, cried and protested as she was led from the courtroom.
The trial also touched on the Blue Note Bistro, which later closed and had prior regulatory and legal problems. Prosecutors said the bar refused to provide records to police; state agencies had previously taken action related to the business and its co-owner.
The jury began deliberations around noon and returned a verdict about 1 p.m. The judge withheld sentencing on the reckless-homicide counts pending guidance from the state Supreme Court.
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