Driver convicted of killing Magnus White sentenced to four years in prison

Updated at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025.

After more than two hours of witness testimony, which included heart-wrenching and tear-filled statements from both of Magnus White’s parents, Yeva Smilianska was sentenced to four years in state prison for reckless vehicular homicide in the 2023 death of the 17-year-old cyclist. 

The sentencing hearing brought out family, friends, and members of the cycling community in support of the White family, and Smilianska’s mother, who testified through a Russian translator that her daughter was suicidal after the death of Magnus White. Smilianska also spoke in her own defense.

She is also sentenced to three years of mandatory parole; the maximum sentence for the charge is six years. She hugged her mother and was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs to begin her sentence with the Department of Corrections today.

The sentencing brings to a close the White family’s almost two-year search for criminal justice for their son, a rising star in the cycling world, who was killed three days before competing in world championships. In a statement, the Whites called the outcome devastating. 

“The sentence handed down does not reflect the gravity of her choices, or the life that was stolen,” the statement reads. “So many things failed Magnus that day. The sentence today is one more failure.

Judge Lindsey Dea said the decision was particularly difficult and emotional. She also had to take a moment to wipe tears away from her eyes before announcing the sentence.

“I think I'm really extra good at pushing feelings down because I think it's really critical for my job to be able to do that. And as much as I try to do that today, I was unable to do that,” Dea said.

She acknowledged that the Whites had hoped for the maximum sentence, but that Smilianska had no criminal history and is not considered a risk. 

“I know that it doesn't bring Magnus back," Dea said. “And I know that it doesn't do what the family wanted this court to do. But I want you to know, I believe that my decision is right under the authority I have.”

Before the sentencing, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty told the judge that Smilianska never showed remorse for her actions since striking and killing White. In fact, her demeanor after the deadly crash and during the trial became a focal point of the testimonies. Magnus White’s mother said Smilianska never said she was sorry, but the Ukrainian’s friends, her mother and her defense attorney all said she doesn’t express her emotions after childhood traumas and the war in Ukraine. 

Still, Dougherty said that Smilianska had the opportunity to tell the truth in December 2023 — she claimed the car had a steering malfunction that caused the crash.

“She went on to emphasize that it was not her fault, that it was entirely the steering that. As much as she felt sorry for the White family, it was not her fault. And that she was 100 percent certain she did not fall asleep. That changed when we got to trial,” Dougherty said

He ended his first statement by presenting photos of Smilianska smoking outside of the courthouse and a selfie she took with her attorneys in the defendant's conference room during the trial — raising his voice about the lack of remorse, and then apologizing for the outburst.

Statements from White’s family and friends

Many family, friends, and members of the cycling community spoke in support of the White family. USA Cycling CEO and President Brendan Quirk was among the letters sent to the court in support of the White family. 

Friend and fellow cyclist Riley Cahill spoke of Magnus’ potential and fun-loving nature, and the lasting effects of his death. 

“Every time I go for a ride, it feels different. Every car that passes me is not just a car. It's a potential weapon. Before this, I never thought twice about cars,” she said. “The way Magnus was killed has created a permanent fear in the minds of all teenage cyclists who simply just want to go for a ride.”

Ethan Glading/USA Cycling

Michael White, the father of Magnus, told the judge that the court was witnessing a nightmare that he can’t wake up from during his 45-minute statement, marked by stops and starts, tear-filled eyes and a choked voice. 

“I'm in a place I didn't know existed. The loss of a child is the worst loss a human being can endure,” Michael White said. “If there's something more painful in life, I hope to never find it. None of this seems real. It didn't seem real when it happened. It doesn't seem real today.” 

Magnus White’s mother reiterated the devastation during her statement.

“Every day I wake up hoping today is the day I get to die. I want to die every day. I don't want my life anymore. When she killed Magnus, she took away my desire to live, to love, to be a mother. How can I be a mother when I can't keep my children safe?” Jill White told the judge through tears. 

Friends, White’s coach and fellow competitive cyclists all spoke of White’s kindness, humor and potential. Everyone who spoke requested the maximum sentence for negligent homicide.

Defense says Smilianska is remorseful

The defense countered Dougherty’s statements that Smilianska was not remorseful or sorry. 

“Yeva has struggled with mental health and when she came to Colorado, she was at a particularly low point, but it was noticeable that she reached out to a professional therapist and received medications to address her PTSD and bipolar diagnosis. Medications she still takes to this day,” attorney Benjamin Hartford said. “These medications are mood stabilizers and one of the effects of these medications is to present with a flat affect. Again, this doesn't mean she's an unfeeling person, it doesn't mean she doesn't feel emotions, just that these drugs mute those feelings.”

Two friends spoke in defense of Smilianka via video conferencing. Sofia Drobinskaya, a friend, told the court she was the one who told her that Magnus White had died. 

“She got very quiet in her reaction. She did not scream or yell or even cry. She turned pale, was silent for a moment and then said, ‘Well then, I'll have to kill myself,’” Drobinskaya said.

“Magnus’ family might be thinking that she doesn't care, that she doesn't cry, that she's not sad or sorry, I'm here to tell you the opposite is true. I talk to her almost every day. I know she is very remorseful. She's very deeply sorry for what happened,” she said.

Tony Gorman/CPR News.

Smilianksa’s mother spoke to the judge in the courtroom, sometimes in English, sometimes through the Russian translator. 

I beg you, believe me, that she is not indifferent. When she was born, she didn't cry. She was always calm from her early childhood,” said Oleksanbra Smilianska.

“I swear that she's not indifferent even today, she didn't want me to speak to say things that I'm telling you now. And the only reason why I'm saying all of this is because I'm fighting for my life,” she said.

Smilianska said as much herself in her statement.

“I can't express with words that I have, how much I would like to go back to these decisions I've made and what has brought me here today. But to my biggest sorrow, I cannot do it,” she said through a translator.  

What happened in 2023 

White began racing at 9 years old. He had competed on the national and international levels of cycling. He won the 2021 Junior 17-18 Cyclocross National Championship and was a member of the USA National Team. He had been a member of USA Cycling National Team and had been training for the 2023 World Mountain Bike Championship in Scotland at the time of his death. 

On July 29, 2023, White was finishing up a training ride days before he was set to leave overseas when he was hit by Smilianska’s vehicle on Highway 119 outside of Boulder — called the Diagonal. 

Smilianska was driving home in a 2004 Toyota Matrix when she swerved twice on the shoulder before striking White south of Highway 119 and 63rd Street. White was thrown off his bike while the vehicle continued driving off the road into a field. Smilianska’s car came to a stop at a fence.

According to court documents, she told officers that she had lost control of her vehicle due to a steering malfunction. The arrest affidavit alleged that she fell asleep at the wheel.

It was later revealed during the trial that Smilianska had spent the previous night drinking and singing with a friend and only slept a few hours that morning. She had texted her friend that she was falling asleep, but chose to drive home. 

Smilanska’s attorneys didn’t deny their client’s actions on that day. Instead, they argued for a lesser charge of careless driving.

Prosecutors argued that her decisions were reckless due to her driving home without the proper amount of sleep, wearing AirPods while driving, and not pulling over after she first nodded off. They noted to the jury that this wasn’t a DUI case because the case was not about alcohol and intoxication. 

White family speaks

After the sentencing hearing, the White family and Dougherty spoke to the media outside of the courthouse.

They expressed that they’re happy that Smilianska will be held accountable, but they were not pleased with the sentence overall.

“Probation for six years. How do you measure that in a life? Magnus’ life is worth four years?” Michael White said. “The system, the attitudes, the driver culture has to change; that victims' rights need to be elevated. And the defendant's rights — this is even that range of sentencing is just unacceptable for this level of crime and this level of loss.”

Ishan Thakore/CPR News

White’s mother, Jill, said that Smilianska will be able to live the rest of her life once she completes her sentence. But Magnus won’t. She noted that it was hard for the family to speak about their son and the devastation that her son’s death has caused.

“It's hard to want to wake up every day to life without Magnus, not looking and showing up for my younger son [Arrow], and being really feeling like I'm struggling to be the mom he deserves. So it's hard,” Jill White said. “And then, that coupled with that he no longer has an older brother and that when we get old, Arrow's alone. And so for us, that's why we were again asking for six years because just the devastation caused and through to very, very reckless choices that could have been easily prevented.”

The possibility of deportation for Smilianska will be determined after she completes her sentence. The issue was brought up by her mother as she was giving her statements. Dougherty said the District Attorney’s Office will have no role in the decision.

“The defendant has to serve her sentence in the state of Colorado, and I strongly believe that that's the right thing because if she were to be deported to a country, any country, we would've no guarantee that she was going to remain in custody and be held accountable,” Dougherty said. “I can tell you that she will not be deported at all or subject to any deportation proceedings until after she finishes her sentence.”

The White family said they will continue to fight for stricter laws for rider safety. After White’s death, his family founded the White Line Foundation. Michael and Jill White held rides in Magnus’ honor while raising awareness for cycling safety.