A Jackson Township man Wednesday was sentenced to 18 months to 5 years in prison in the death of a good friend in a drunken driving crash.

But Butler County Judge William Shaffer said it's not in his power to order Jeffrey McCall to write letters to the victim's family.

Judge Shaffer told the victim's widow, Lisa Carangio, he only could pass her wishes for communication with the defendant on to state prison officials.

McCall, 30, pleaded no contest to homicide by vehicle and drunken driving.

When released, McCall will serve 3 years of probation, log 120 hours of community service and pay $58,166 in restitution.

McCall and Anthony Carangio, by all accounts, had been good friends prior to the Feb. 15, 2006, crash. McCall and Carangio spent the night playing darts and drinking at bars. They were on the way home when McCall crashed his 1999 Acura Integra into an oak tree along Evergreen Mill Road in Jackson Township.

McCall was badly hurt. Carangio, who had been pinned in the front passenger seat, died five hours later.

During sentencing, McCall expressed his regret to Carangio's family, who was in the courtroom.

"I have no idea how to say how sorry I am," McCall said.

Lisa Carangio, 38, sobbed as she addressed the court.

She asked the judge to order McCall to keep a picture of her husband in his prison cell, to carry a picture of her husband and children when he is released and to write letters to her and her children while he is in prison.