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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 24, 2005 Man gets 20 months in pen for October crash Four children were injured when Todd Chaves hit another car head-on after an outing last fall By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A Grants Pass man must spend almost two years in prison for injuring four children in an October traffic crash. Todd Richard Chaves, 36, heard his sentence Tuesday in Jackson County on two counts of third-degree assault and three counts of fourth-degree assault. Chaves pleaded guilty Friday to causing an Oct. 2 crash that injured four Grants Pass boys, including a teen who previously lost his right leg to cancer. "You took a piece of his childhood," said Sherri Farley, mother of 14-year-old Dustin Farley. The woman told the court of her son’s struggle following the crash with physical therapy and taking time off from school after he had just managed to put his life back together. Dustin’s left leg was broken in the wreck. Chaves was taking the boys home from an outing to watch stock car races at the Jackson County Sports Park in White City. At about 11 p.m. on Gold Ray Road, his Ford Escort collided head-on with a Honda Accord driven by 23-year-old Jessica Trimmer. The boys told police that before the collision Chaves had been driving in the middle of the road, sometimes with no headlights and using the emergency brake, said Beth Heckert, chief deputy district attorney for Jackson County. Advertisement "It was really fortunate that nobody was more seriously injured or killed in this crash," Heckert told the court. Chaves, who told police he had consumed beer at the races, had a .06 blood-alcohol level several hours after the crash. Prosecutors would have argued that Chaves’ blood-alcohol was above the legal limit of .08 at the time of the wreck, Heckert said. Trimmer and all four boys have fully recovered from their injuries. However, Devon Williams, then 7, suffered damage to his internal organs and underwent surgery to remove a portion of his intestines. Brendan Davault, 8, suffered a broken leg, and 15-year-old Michael Williams was cut by flying glass, Heckert said. Chaves was formerly friends with the Williams family. Arrested on Dec. 28, Chaves bailed out of jail the same day. Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia ordered Chaves to report to prison on Nov. 2 to serve his sentence of one year and eight months. Chaves’ driver license will be suspended for five years following his release. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail Man gets 20 months in pen for October crash ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s