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Michael Ware's daughter rolled his SUV, killing three teenage boys.

(screen shot/WNEP-16)

A father who let his unlicensed 15-year-old daughter drive and cause a crash that killed three other teens has lost a bid to void his 6 1/2- to 16-year state prison sentence.



Michael J. Ware argued that Wayne County President Judge Raymond L. Hamill was far too severe in imposing that penalty for the August 2014 accident in the Poconos.



A state Superior Court panel disagreed in an opinion Senior Judge Patricia H. Jenkins issued this week.



Hamill, who questioned Ware's remorse, acted properly in running Ware's sentences consecutively on his guilty pleas to three counts each of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment, Jenkins concluded.



Ware, 55, of Scarsdale, N.Y., was on vacation with his family when he allowed his teen daughter to drive his SUV. The girl picked up three teenage boys, and was speeding when she lost control on a curve and rolled the vehicle.



Police said Ware initially told them his daughter had taken the SUV without his permission. When Ware pleaded guilty to the criminal charges, he had no deal with prosecutors guaranteeing the length of his sentence.



On appeal to the state court, Ware claimed Hamill's sentence was "manifestly excessive" and that the judge improperly focused on his refusal to cooperate with police. He cited his constitutional right against self-incrimination. He insisted, too, that the judge, who called the accident a "horrific manslaughter," ignored his statement that he was genuinely sorry for what had happened.



Jenkins found that Hamill took every proper issue into account. Hamill did consider Ware's apology, she wrote, but "did not find (Ware) took full responsibility for his actions."



She cited what Hamill told Ware at his sentencing. "You never spoke the truth and you left your daughter to bear this alone," Hamill said. "What kind of father does this?"



Hamill also noted that Ware had asked his daughter to bring him back a breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts as she drove off on the fateful trip.



Hamill "considered specifically that (Ware) let his daughter take the blame for his actions. The court was free to consider this factor in sentencing," Jenkins wrote.



