Marine sentenced to 7 years in plea deal, accused of killing woman during crime spree

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Twenty-one-year-old Marine Lance Corporal John Eugene Brand was sentenced to seven years behind bars Wednesday for his role in a deadly crime spree in December.

Brand is accused of stealing a truck from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, driving to Escondido and stealing, before leading police on a chase, crashing the stolen vehicle and killing one of the two female passengers.

Eighteen-year-old Shevondia Compare-Bell died in the crash. Her family said Tuesday would have been her 19th birthday, and instead of celebrating that, plus her high school graduation this year, they laid her to rest and spent the day after her birthday in court for Brand's sentencing.

“Mommy loves you and happy birthday," Shakyla Bell said through tears, "and just wait for me until it's my...