‘Huge break’ for hit-and-run driver who struck child

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‘Huge break’ for hit-and-run driver who struck child

Originally published January 9, 2013 at 7:24 p.m., updated January 10, 2013 at 8:17 a.m.

WATERVILLE — The East Wenatchee teenager who ran over a 3-year-old boy and drove off without stopping will not be prosecuted for the accident.

But Natalie M. Reyes, 16, must appear at all 19 schools in Douglas County to acknowledge and give lectures about her crime, in addition to performing 96 hours of community service. If she completes the court-ordered term and has no new offenses for one year, her criminal record will remain clean under the deferred disposition order signed in a Wednesday hearing by Douglas County Superior Court Judge John Hotchkiss.

Deferred disposition is available to juvenile defendants with no criminal history who agree to meet probation requirements in lieu of trial.

Reyes pleaded guilty Dec. 26 to charges of hit-and-run driving and vehicular assault, saying she was talking on her cellphone as she drove, did not see the 3-year-old Dallas Davis as he played near his family’s apartment, and panicked and fled when she realized she had struck him.

Hotchkiss told the defendant, who caused massive injuries to the child and lied to police afterward, that she’d been given “a huge break,” and would be sentenced to the maximum term of 45 days in detention and up to 225 hours of community service if she does not comply with the deferral agreement.

Reyes ran over the boy Aug. 27 in an apartment-complex parking lot in the 400 block of Sixth Street Northeast in East Wenatchee. He suffered skull fractures, a broken collarbone, a collapsed lung and three broken ribs, and continues to undergo medical assessments.

Douglas County deputy prosecutor Gordon Edgar opposed deferred disposition for Reyes, arguing for 10 days in detention plus fines and community service. In a written memo, he cited “the disturbing facts surrounding the offense, the nature of the victim’s injuries, and Ms. Reyes’ false statements to the investigating officer.”

Reyes addressed the Davis family in court. Her presentation to Douglas County schools must be submitted in writing to Hotchkiss and approved beforehand.

She also must pay a $100 fine plus restitution to the family, in an amount to be set later. The boys’ parents are contemplating legal action to seek compensation for the child’s injuries.

Jefferson Robbins: 664-7123

robbins@wenatcheeworld.com

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Don 4 months, 1 week ago

I won't speak to the nature of the actual sentence, since I know nothing of this girl and her circumstances or what took place in the court room. But, I think the problems we have with people who drive carelessly, and flee the scene when they plow into or over someone, can be summed up in the paragraph about what will happen if she doesn't comply with court orders.

As the article states, "maximum term of 45 days in detention and up to 225 hours of community service" for nearly killing a child. That is the maximum! How ridiculous is that?

lonedog3 4 months, 1 week ago

so it is now legal to use your cell phone in east Wenatchee, legal to run over a child, not to mention ruining his life from pain and suffering. legal to flee the scene of an accident that caused life threating injury to a innocent child. legal to impede investigations by lying to the police. it is bad enough that a prosecutor that is supposed to stand for the people and put criminals in prison not on the street but for a judge to allow this to happen and side with the defense when the facts are as bright as day is absolutely despicable!!

sheltigirl 4 months, 1 week ago

Wow!She got away with almost murder!This is awful.If I was that family I would really feel like the life of my child was not important!And worse yet this girl has learned NOTHING!

carol 4 months, 1 week ago

Who voted for Hotchkiss?? Please don't vote for him again.

carol 4 months, 1 week ago

Can parents file civil suit?

rebaann1939 4 months, 1 week ago

This outcome is really hard to understand; everything she did wrong from using her phone while driving, hit and run, lying, what precedent does this set.

northrup 4 months, 1 week ago

Talking on her phone while driving (isn't that illegal?)
Inattention to driving (isn't take against good driving practice?)
Running over a small innocent child causing massive injuries that in all likelihood will be with HIM FOREVER
Fleeing the scene of the accident SHE CAUSED and NOT RENDERING ASSISTANCE to the little child SHE crushed
And, lying about it.

Good people have gone to prison for much less and without previous infractions. Judge got it wrong this time. 45 days (or nights) in juvie, and speaking to 19 schools and the rest plus taking away her drivers license and banning her driving for a long time makes more sense.

Rebelrouser 4 months, 1 week ago

Joe, just because she did not get punished very much does not make her infractions legal. She just got away with committing those crimes

imoagn 4 months, 1 week ago

I'm sure she feels terrible about the bad decision she made. It will follow her the rest of her life. But while making her speak in front of other kids may seem like a good idea, what are they going to see? They will see how she's ok, that she didn't have to do any substantial jail time and that the injured child is going to heal. And that she probably still has a cell phone and possibly still a license. She should, instead, be speaking months from now, with pictures of herself in detention wearing sweats and shackles. That's the reality.

TwoCents 4 months, 1 week ago

Do we really believe that going around to 19 schools talking about this horrific tragedy that occurred and how she got away with it somehow is punishment? Give me a break...she's gotten more newspaper time and publicity from this than some of our local sports teams and now she gets to be a "guest speaker." What is she going to tell them? "Don't run over children while driving and texting and then flee, you might have to talk to 19 schools if you do." While I do not know this girl's heart or how much remorse she feels, I do know that simpler crimes have been committed with stronger punishments and I also know that regardless of the fact that she is "just" 16, she was a licensed driver who took on the responsibility of driving and should be held accountable for her actions. I understand that accidents happen too, we all could potentially experience a horrible accident such as this; however, my problem is the fleeing. She needed to own up. Being scared is not an excuse for complete disregard for running over a child. In this case, I just don't feel the punishment fits the crime.

cascadetaxes 4 months, 1 week ago

The problem is the sentencing guidelines. The maximum she could have received is not enough to fit the crime. The judge didn't really have a lot of leeway in what he sentenced her to. I think that giving this presentation to the schools can be a positive thing for her and for the kids at these assemblies. Maybe that will save another child's life.

marisela1 4 months, 1 week ago

CHILL OUT PEOPLE!! WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES IN OUR LIVES AND WE LEARN FROM THEM.

davebugg 4 months, 1 week ago

Your line of moral relativistic reasoning and generalization is absurdly dangerous to our society. While we all make mistakes, there is a vast and massive gulf between petty and innocuous mistakes on the one hand, and life-threatening, harmful, and criminal mistakes on the other. Nor do all those who make the serious and criminal mistakes "learn from them". If such were the case, there would be no repeat juvenile and adult criminal offenders.

If your viewpoint ever becomes more entrenched than it has, it bodes poorly for our society.

yolotzin 4 months, 1 week ago

marisela1-Yes, we all make" mistakes", but when it involves a human life, then running from scene, lying to police, well, that changes everything. She is getting off way too easy. I hope she does learn from this. But a little guy is now suffering from her actions. Prayers to all.

lonedog3 4 months, 1 week ago

"CHILL OUT PEOPLE!! WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES IN OUR LIVES AND WE LEARN FROM THEM" would you like to go tell this to an innocent little child that was critically injured and will suffer with pain and disorder for the rest of his life? would you like to go tell this child's parents this? Put the shoe on your foot! would you feel the same if it was your innocent child under the car?