Kevin Grasha

kgrasha@lsj.com

MASON – A 21-year-old Detroit man who admitted providing alcohol to a Michigan State University freshman who died from alcohol poisoning was sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation.

Dishon Ambrose — described in court as a close, family friend of 18-year-old Olivia Pryor — pleaded guilty to furnishing alcohol to a minor causing death. The felony charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette also sentenced Ambrose to 90 days in jail, which he already served after his arrest.

In handing down the sentence, Collette said: "I've got a kid here who's never been in trouble in his life, who has gone to school and taken care of his affairs."

Collette noted that Ambrose was once considering a career in the military. "I've got a young man here who I can do something for in a positive way, for once in my life," he said.

The incident dates back to March 2012. It involved a shot-drinking contest.

Another man, Marquez Cannon of Eastpointe, admitted raping Pryor after she was incapacitated. He pleaded guilty last year to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and is serving six to 20 years in prison.

Neither Cannon, now 20, or Ambrose were MSU students.

They were drinking with Pryor, who was from Detroit, and her roommate in their South Hubbard Hall dorm room. Pryor passed out. She was found unresponsive the next morning with a blood-alcohol level of 0.349, which could have been higher before her death.

Pryor's mother, Cynthia, talked about her daughter's dreams that will go unrealized.

Pryor was studying broadcast journalism. One of her goals, her mother said, was to become a "best-selling author."

"These were her dreams and aspirations that she...will never get the chance to...accomplish," she said.

"There are no words that can express the emptiness our family feels," she added. "We are no longer ourselves because of Olivia's death."