A woman who was sentenced to four years imprisonment and six years on probation for her role in a 2019 traffic-related death in Seminole County is seeking a new trial and a second look at her case.

Natasha Long, a resident of Oklahoma City, was sentenced last March by Judge Timothy Olsen after she entered a plea of Nolo Contendere to a charge of first-degree manslaughter. Long was driving a Mercedes Benz convertible, reportedly at speeds of over 100 mph, when she hit an embankment. Two passengers in the vehicle were ejected, including 20-year-old Trayvon Miller, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle was sheared in half and burst into flames, trapping Miller inside.

Long’s second passenger, Kristen Crawford, was transported by Wewoka Fire and EMS to a helipad and then transferred by air ambulance to OU Medical Center in OKC with massive injuries. Long was transferred by Wewoka Fire and EMS to Holdenville General Hospital, where she was treated and released before being arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on a first-degree manslaughter charge.

In December, Long filed for post-conviction relief on the grounds that she would not have entered her Nolo Contendere plea had she received effective assistance from her trial counsel in explaining potential defenses to the charge of manslaughter.

“On the date in question, Natasha Long was involved in a car accident that resulted in the death of the victim. The Petitioner was charged with First Degree Manslaughter, based on the allegation that she caused the victim’s death while driving under suspension. The Petitioner entered a plea of Nolo Contendere to the charge of First-Degree Manslaughter, a decision which was made based on her attorney’s advice and the belief that she had no viable defense options,” her attorneys wrote in the application to the court.

A hearing on Long’s request was originally scheduled for Feb. 25 but was rescheduled because Long did not appear. Two additional hearings, scheduled for March 10 and 25, were met with objections from Attorney Lloyd Palmer, who represents Miller’s family. Palmer told KFOR he had an issue with Miller’s family and his firm not receiving notice of the hearings until March 7.

On March 10, District judge Brett Butner issued the following ruling: “The court, upon reviewing the file, finds that neither the order setting the hearing on the post-conviction nor the judicial review was mailed to victim. While there is a question whether notice is required under the judicial review statute, the Oklahoma constitution governs. Article 2, section 34 states that a victim is entitled to reasonable and timely notice and an opportunity to appear at all proceedings concerning the defendant.”

Butner ordered the March 10 and 25 hearings stricken and will hear the case on March 26. According to court documents, a judicial review of Long’s case will be conducted first, followed by the post-conviction relief hearing.

Last summer, Miller’s family prevailed in an $11 million wrongful death lawsuit against Long. The lawsuit was handled by attorney Alan Taylor with Palmer Law PLC, which is headquartered in Ada.

Following the announcement of the judgement, Miller’s family released the following statement: “This civil suit was never about money. It was about accountability. Trayvon had a beautiful soul and no amount of money will ever bring him back to his family. He was a son, a brother, and an uncle that has been deeply missed by his family!”

In other unrelated previous incidents, court records show that in March of 2019 Long was charged in Woodward County with one count of burglary, one count of assault & battery with a dangerous weapon; one count of feloniously pointing a firearm; one count of conspiracy; and one count of contributing to the delinquency of minors. The charges were from an incident that was reported to have occurred in 2018, when Long allegedly broke into a home “with intent to commit some crime by other manner, being armed with a dangerous weapon or assisted by other.”

In another unrelated incident, Long was charged in February 2017 with larceny of domestic animals for allegedly stealing a woman’s horse in Woodward County. Documents in that case state Long allegedly threatened to shoot a woman during the larceny.