A judge has sentenced a Cedar Rapids woman to three years of probation after driving her two children into the Cedar River.

Alicia Cole took a plea deal for the incident at MoHawk Park back in March.

Boaters were able to rescue Cole and her children after the incident. All three of them had minor injuries.

TV9 sat down with Jason Tallon, the father of one of the children, he wanted a tougher penalty for Cole.

Tallon says his son, and younger half-brother, could have died in the cold water of the Cedar River last March. And he fears Alicia doesn't realize how her actions hurt her children.

"If it wasn't for the boaters in the river that day I would be planning a funeral and not a court date and a custody battle with this woman," Tallon said. "Now we can't even go to a Frisbee golf course because that's where she took him before she drove them in the river that day, and he just clams up, and I know he's replaying that moment."

Cole did say regrets her decision to use meth. Her lawyer said she was not in her right mind when this incident happened. And added she has been clean, and sober, since March.

Cole did have a plea agreement for this case. That meant the state couldn't make a recommendation at sentencing, so lawyers couldn't ask for an exact amount of prison time.

Cole's attorney did ask for deferred judgment.

Ultimately the judge decided for 3 years of probation, but added Cole could get up to 10 years in prison if she breaks probation.