Garland, Texas – Concluding an awful case that claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl and seriously harmed her loved ones, a Garland man accused of causing a fatal crash while intoxicated agreed to spend almost two decades behind bars. Previously convicted of a DWI, Jeremy Spencer filed a guilty plea earlier this week, acknowledging his involvement for the tragic collision that took the life of young Brooklyn Moran.
Court records state Spencer admitted two charges of drunken assault and one count of intoxicated manslaughter. He will serve a 17-year jail sentence as part of the plea deal; the terms for each crime run simultaneously. However, he will be qualified for parole at some point during the sentence. In a matter that has plagued the Moran family since 2022, when the accident initially happened, the plea deal marks a sad turning point.
Behind the wheel of his SUV, Spencer drove out of his lane and collided head-on with Brooklyn’s mother, Brittney. Later on, Brittney—who suffered serious injuries—learned her daughter had died. She also remembers very little of the accident. Brooklyn’s friend was in the SUV as well and suffered injuries. Medical staff rushed Brittney to the hospital and, despite her own condition, she was eventually wheeled on a stretcher to attend her child’s funeral.
Spencer’s criminal record shows he lacked a driver’s license at the time of the crash, which was linked to a past DWI conviction in Collin County. Spencer spent most of the pre-trial process out on bond despite these red flags. He allegedly tested positive on drug patches for cocaine and methamphetamine, therefore breaching the terms of his parole. Authorities further claim he was discovered in locations he was not allowed to attend in line with his bond. The Moran family expressed frustration at his continuous bond violations and the fact he was out of detention prior to the last plea agreement being negotiated.
According to Brittney and her husband, David Moran, they are both devastated and let down that Spencer was presented a plea deal at all. For the crash claiming Brooklyn’s young life, they had expected a more severe penalty. Although the couple knows that intoxication manslaughter in Texas carries a 2-to-20-year penalty, they feel nothing can really atone for the death of their daughter.
Though heartbroken, the Morans intend to personally meet Spencer during his formal sentencing—which is set on March 3. According to Brittney, they have been emotionally getting ready for that day when they will be able to express the deep grief and suffering their family has gone through. Though she cannot take away the loss, Brittney says a little comfort comes from being able to address Spencer and share just how profoundly his actions affected their life.
Speaking with local reporters, Brittney remembered the day she woke up in the hospital, perplexed and not knowing why she had injuries. She didn’t learn about the terrible result of the crash until much later. She has just spent months healing physically and also working through the emotional anguish of losing her daughter. She underlines that, given Brooklyn’s death’s suddenness and senselessness, there is no straightforward road to recovery.
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For the Moran family, the fight never stops. Although the 17-year prison sentence offers some degree of legal closure, it cannot bring Brooklyn back or heal the great suffering they daily experience. Carrying the legacy of their brilliant, beloved kid forward, Brittney and David seek to reconstruct their life in the shadow of this tragedy beyond March 3. Although they admit the road to healing is long and winding, they think the hearing will be a significant turning point
Ultimately, this plea deal closes a chapter in a case that has tested the Morans’ resolve.
