LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—The man who ran over and killed a 7-year-old boy in downtown Sumner in July of 2011 was sentenced in Lawrence County Circuit Court yesterday…but is still out on bond awaiting an appeal of the sentence.
Chad Hayes
Chad Hayes, 34, was issued a four and a half year sentence Monday (April 22, 2014), this following a February 27 stipulated bench trial wherein Hayes agreed to a cap of no more thank nine years DOC, in exchange for an agreement of conviction to Aggravated DUI Causing Death. The case dates back to July 25, 2011, when Hayes was driving a van under the influence, with his kids inside, and struck and dragged David Kearby, age 7, as he was waiting on his bicycle at the side of the street with a group of kids.
The prosecution in the case, handled by Mike Vujovich (who stayed on the case after being brought in by duly-elected state’s attorney Lisa Wade, who handed most of her serious cases off to a special prosecutor from the appellate prosecutor’s office, as Vuj is), had asked for an 8-year sentence. Hayes’ attorney Brad Vaughn argued against that. Judge Mark Shaner, however, was the one who ultimately issued the four and a half year sentence. With truth-in-sentencing guidelines, Hayes must serve 85 percent of it…meaning he will be in DOC just under four years.
That’s if he gets there. Hayes has yet to begin serving the sentence, as his bond is reportedly still in effect since he’s either filed an appeal in the sentence or has filed intent to appeal. We’ll have more on the case in the May-June edition of Disclosure, on stands May 14, and right here at the e-Edition May 12.
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