HILLSBORO -- Tom Joseph, whose 80-year-old mother was killed in a traffic crash last year, approached the other driver in a Washington County courtroom to deliver a simple message.

"I forgive you," he said.

Pamela Lynne Gibson, convicted last week of criminally negligent homicide, appeared distraught after a judge sentenced her Tuesday to 21 months in prison for the death of Betty Jean Joseph.

Gibson held a tear-stained tissue. Her words slipped out with sadness and disbelief in her voice.

"I'm going to have a baby in prison," she said to her victim's son.

As an emotional sentencing hearing concluded, family members of the defendant and the victim shook hands, hugged and exchanged words of remorse and well wishes.

Gibson, 36,

on June 22, 2010, drove into traffic and collided with Betty Jean Joseph's Honda Accord at the

.

Betty Jean Joseph was killed instantly.

Gibson wasn't driving intoxicated or using her cell phone at the time of the crash. She told police she thought she had a green light.

determined her light had been red for six to 11 seconds before she entered the intersection.

Circuit Judge Suzanne Upton

at a no-jury trial on Oct. 11. On Tuesday, Gibson faced a maximum prison sentence of about 2 years and a minimum of probation. Gibson's attorney,

, said her client found out on Sunday that she was pregnant.

Gibson spoke quickly through tears, her voice shaking, her breathing jagged.

She was sorry, she said, and had been ever since the crash. At the scene, she was in shock, she said.

"Every day since the accident I've been in emotional distress," she said.

She couldn't imagine losing a loved one, she said. She lit candles at church in memory of Betty Jean Joseph.

"I think under different circumstances, you would know that I'm a good person," she said.

Upton told Gibson her crime didn't make her evil, but she had still caused a death. For that, Gibson had to pay, Upton said.

"I'm very glad that you weren't hurt, Ms. Gibson, but I believe justice requires me to impose the prison sentence," she said.

Gibson's tears escalated to sobs that came in heavy gasps. She turned to her attorney.

"She can't reconsider this?" she asked. "Will my baby get proper prenatal care?"

Upton said Gibson would be eligible for any programs available to her, which could reduce her time in custody.

"I can't breathe," Gibson said, as she pulled her dark hair into a ponytail.

"You know, Ms. Gibson," Upton said, "there's one solemn benefit from going to prison: You can hold up your head when you get out and know that you have paid dearly for this. You'll have paid in the biggest way a person can pay."

Turning to the victim's family, Upton said, "I hope in a meaningful way, this brings closure for the Joseph family."

A sheriff's deputy entered the courtroom to take Gibson into custody.

Gibson remained seated at the defense table, but her fiance leaned over the bar and enveloped her in a hug.

The Josephs offered kind words to Gibson and her family.

Upton left the bench, crossed her small courtroom and shook hands with Velazquez and then with Gibson.

The deputy didn't rush Gibson into handcuffs. As the room emptied, her fiance and mother remained.

She slowly removed her earrings and other jewelry. She handed them to her fiance.

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