In the end, forgiveness was not enough for Cameron Swartzentruber.

Swartzentruber, 25, Odon, was sentenced in Daviess Superior Court Wednesday to 10 years for the drunk driving accident that left mother of seven, Edna Knepp, 41, dead and seriously injured five of her children.

The sentence, handed down by Superior Court Judge Dean Sobecki, calls for five of those years to be served in the state Department of Corrections and the other five years to be suspended. Swartzentruber was also sentenced to six and a half years of probation following his sentence and two years of a suspended license.

Although Edna’s husband, Enos, and members of the family forgave Swartzentruber and asked for probation, Sobecki said just probation would not fit the crime.

“I believe that sentence would seriously undervalue the life that was taken,” Sobecki said.

Swartzentruber was returning home from a graduation party on May 13, 2006, when he hit the rear end of a buggy the Knepps were driving on CR 900E, the Odon-Cannelburg Road. Edna Knepp was killed instantly while five children: Jo-Anna, 15, Judith, 14, Janelle, 5 months, Joshua, 6, and Joseph, 12, all sustained critical injuries and were taken via helicopter to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Enos Knepp sustained multiple face and head lacerations in the crash.

Swartzentruber refused a chemical test and was taken into custody, where he registered a .24 blood-alcohol content, three times the legal limit.

Swartzentruber was charged with 14 felony counts relating to the accident. He pled guilty in January to causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class B felony. and six counts of operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher, Class D felonies.

Swartzentruber family members, friends and the Knepp family came to Swartzentruber’s sentencing hearing Wednesday. The courtroom was so full that audience members were asked to sit in the jury box. After the hearing was finished, no one left as family members and friends cried when Swartzentruber was taken by deputies to the Daviess County Security Center.

During the hearing, Swartzentruber’s parents, pastor, fiancee, boss and Enos Knepp came to the stand. Floyd Wagler, Swartzentruber’s boss, said he would have a job waiting for him when he returns.

“I think he has took his punishment,” Wagler said. “He has learned his lessons.”

Terry Swartzentruber, Cameron’s father, said his son has not had a drink since being released on bail 20 days after the crash. He testified that in the hospital after the crash, Cameron kept asking about the Knepp family and how they were.

Terry Swartzentruber also said he was approached by an state police trooper to ask Cameron to speak to young people about the dangers of alcohol.

“Cameron has made a tremendous change since the time of the accident,” Terry said. “If he could help anyone in the community, he would do that. He wants to do it.”

During examination by Cameron’s attorney, J. Dirk Carnahan of Vincennes, Terry said he suspected Cameron was drinking while he was living at home prior to the accident.