Video: Drug dealer in teen's Ecstasy death gets 30 months

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EVERETT, Wash. – A man who sold the drug Ecstasy that killed a Puyallup girl was shown some leniency from a judge Wednesday for his cooperation in the investigation.

David Michael Morris of Puyallup was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the New Year's Eve 2006 death of 16-year-old Danielle Dawn McCarthy, also of Puyallup.

Danielle's mother was in tears as she spoke at the sentencing.

"I hope someday he has the courage to explain to me why my child's life wasn't worth saving," said Lisa McCarthy. "She's dead and she's not coming back... and she was mine and I loved her."

Morris will also have to serve 30 months of community custody upon his release, which will include substance abuse treatment. If he fails at that or commits another crime, he'll serve the remainder of those 30 months in prison.

"I want to apologize to the McCarthys for the loss of their daughter. I know it won't change her not being here, but I wish it could," Morris said in court.

McCarthy took the drug at a party. After two doses, prosecutors say Danielle became very sick and started having seizures, but no one did anything to help her. Morris finally drove her to an Edmonds hospital, but she was already dead.

Morris faced up to five years in prison.

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Danielle McCarthy

The lighter sentence was not part of a plea bargain. The judge cited the fact that Morris was cooperative through the investigation, pleaded guilty to controlled substance homicide and voluntarily agreed to testify against another suspect, 18-year-old Donalydia Huertas. She's the classmate who is accused of actually giving McCarthy the Ecstasy, then telling people not to help Danielle as she was suffering. Huertas is charged with controlled substance homicide and first-degree manslaughter.

Trial begins next week for Huertas. She was offered similar deals to Morris' in both juvenile and adult courts, but pleaded not guilty.