MUSCATINE, Iowa — Two families wept Monday at the sentencing hearing of an Iowa City man who killed a West Branch mother and son in a drunken driving crash.

“This is a real tragedy … not only for the victims’ families, … but certainly for your family as well,” Muscatine County District Court Judge Marlita Greve said before ordering Edgar Escarcega’s two 25-year prison sentences to run concurrent.

Escarcega, 19, pleaded guilty March 27 to two counts of homicide by vehicle for causing the Dec. 6, 2008, accident that killed Johnna Jamieson, 45, and her 15-year-old son, Nikita Jamieson.

Escarcega’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.191, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Kevin Jamieson, who had been divorced from Johnna Jamieson since 2000,  set photos of his “former wife and friend” and their son, who he described as smart and funny, in front of the courtroom facing Escarcega.

“You’ve taken a lot from us,” Jamieson said during a victim impact statement in which he asked for Escarcega to serve consecutive sentences.

Jamieson’s girlfriend Tammy LeMaster, wiped away tears while she read statements from Kevin and Johnna Jamieson’s 13-year-old daughter, Tuesday Jamieson, and Kevin Jamieson’s 6-year-old son Isiah Jamieson.

“Now I have to live without my mom, Johnna, or my big brother, Nikita,” wrote Tuesday Jamieson, who also described spending Mother’s Day at a cemetery.

Isaiah Jamieson wrote that he now rides the bus to school alone. “Every day I miss my brother,” he said.

Escarcega said he was “extremely remorseful” for the “terrible mistake that took the life of two innocent people.”

“I wish it never happened,” he said, “But it did, and all I can do now is take responsibility.”

Escarcega read from a letter that described how he had trouble fitting in during high school, which resulted in minor criminal charges and two public intoxication arrests since his graduation.

“I hope I can correct my mistakes, and make (my family) proud,” he said, sobbing.

His parents and sisters, seated in a bench behind him, cried as Escarcega read the letter, and during statements from the Jamieson family.

Joe Mooreland, an attorney who is filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the Jamieson family, said after the hearing that they were “disappointed” in the sentence.

Escarcega must also pay a total of $300,000 in restitution.

Kevin Jamieson said during the hearing that Escarcega has “had numerous chances to straighten out his life. Now he has taken two.”

Greve said Escarcega’s remorse “seems genuine.” A pre-sentence investigation showed a “minimal criminal history,” she said, “and I do believe he has potential.”