Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson was harshly criticized after commuting the prison sentence of former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid—the son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid—who was involved in a drunken driving crash that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl.
Reid had been sentenced to three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections in November 2022 after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury. Parson's commutation transformed the remainder of Reid's prison sentence into house arrest, subject to various conditions.
Under the commutation, Reid's house arrest will persist until October 31, 2025. He must adhere to weekly meetings with a parole officer and a peer support sponsor, participate in behavioral counseling, work a minimum of 30 hours a week, and complete 10 hours of community service each month, among other requirements.
Parson, a devoted holder of Chiefs season tickets, joined the team in celebrating their recent Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City.
A spokesperson for Parson mentioned that the governor took multiple factors into account when deciding on the commutation, saying Reid "completed his alcohol abuse treatment program and has served more prison time than most individuals convicted of similar offenses."
Prosecutors disclosed that Reid was inebriated and traveling at around 84 mph in a 65 mph zone when his Dodge truck crashed into cars on an entrance ramp to Interstate 435 near Arrowhead Stadium on February 4, 2021. The crash resulted in a traumatic brain injury for a 5-year-old girl, Ariel Young, and injuries to a total of six people.
Reid's blood-alcohol level was 0.113%, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08%, two hours after the crash. The Chiefs reached a confidential settlement with Ariel Young's family to cover her ongoing medical treatment and related expenses.
Many have condemned Parson's action.
Ariel Young’s mother, Felicia Miller, mentioned during Reid's 2022 sentencing hearing that Young continues to grapple with issues stemming from the crash, including difficulties with balance, dragging her right foot while walking, and the need for thick glasses, among other challenges.
Miller said "Ariel’s life is forever changed because of Britt Reid" and that Young "will deal with the effects of his actions every day for the rest of her life.”
An attorney for Young’s family said on Friday that he was in disbelief after learning about the commutation news, which was one of three announced by Parson. Parson also granted 36 pardons and denied 63 clemency requests, part of an effort to address a backlog of nearly 3,700 clemency applications inherited when he assumed the governorship in 2018.
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