The Sentencing of Chase Daniel Jones April 25, 2025

 Last Friday, the long anticipated, long awaited day of Chase Daniel Jones' sentencing took place.  Everyone of our kids came, accept for Nora, who Cat Stabio lovingly came and picked up for me and entertained all day.  Kelly, Jared, and Brig who had come for Easter and the trial were also there. Momma Debbie, Chelice, Amber, Tia, and Aly flew in for it.  Annette, Scott, and Suzie were there waiting to give us hugs extra early as we walked in. Meg and Brad Singley came too, as did my dear friend Linda Sterling. I know many others zoomed in and were supporting from afar. It was so good to have them there.  Abe and his family were there, and the Wilcoxon's with all of their children. It was a court room filled with love and support.  

As I walked in the courtroom I felt a sense of nervousness, and that grew and grew until I began to have a little shortness of breath.  I felt hot. My pencil skirt felt tight, and I just felt like I could hardly breath.  My heart was racing, and then I looked forward, and right in front of me, in between the heads and just past the prosecuting table was a picture of Buster looking right at me.  I imagined him saying "You got this Mom" with all the love of his sweet heart coming through those squinting eyes.  It really helped me to focus on him.  

We all stood when the judge came in. He had a very kind and compassionate looking face, with a beard, full head of hair, and thick rimmed glasses.  He reminded me of Atticus Finch or something.  

After the prosecuting attorney spoke (which she did a great job at) Olivia spoke, then Jaron, then me.  Olivia did such a beautiful job. I was so proud of her for being brave enough to give a statement in court! 

Jaron's statement was absolutely beautiful and heartfelt.  I loved it so much I wish it could have been mine.  I'll make sure to include it here on the blog. He spoke to all the things he hates now, but ended with the fact that ironically the one thing he doesn't hate is Chase Daniel Jones.  It was beautiful, full of grace, forgiveness, and spoken like a man who follows Christ.   

My light headed feeling went away shortly after I spoke.  Chase, Rivka, Ted, Robyn, and Abe also spoke and did wonderful jobs.  Then they played a short video of our beautiful four loved ones Eloise, Tilly, Andrea, and Buster.  The video left everyone crying. Buster's sweet voice, singing, "After hours" filled the courtroom, and TV's across the nation as it was broadcast live on Court TV.  Oh how I longed for him.  

Then it was the side of the defense to speak.  The lawyer didn't do the best job, he's not my favorite, because he has said things I find to be quite tacky, such as describing Chase's heinous crime that day as "a dumb mistake". This time he talked about how we were all 18 and 19 once and we make bad choices at that age. I was thinking "You know what most 18/19 year old's in our church are doing?- Giving up two years at home to go preach the gospel of Jesus Christ".  I found his statement a little uncouth and had some hard feelings toward him, but even then was able to be kind and courteous to him after it was all over and when he came up to shake my hand say "You have a hard job don't you?"

After the defense attorney spoke, the parents of Chase were given a chance to speak.  They declined and instead had the lawyer read their statement.  Their sincere statement was full of accountability, regret, and apology.  I had a lot of respect for them apologizing the way they did.  Then Chase was given the opportunity to speak. He was pretty unhinged so instead of speak, he had the lawyer read his statement too.  It was full of apology, regret, vulnerability, sorrow, and accountability.  It really felt sincere too.  One of the things that struck me is that he said he used speed as a way to avoid his problems.  He said he was addicted to speed.  It was sad.  

When it was the judges turn to speak, something happened that I've never seen before. He got immensely emotional.  To the point that he couldn't talk for quite some time.  From what I've heard this is quite unheard of.  He did a beautiful job seeing the sorrow of the situation and acknowledging by name Eloise, Tilly, Buster, and Andrea.  Some of us had wondered if he had read the many impact letters that came in, and it really seemed like he had, because he said he felt like he knew these people now, and he even read some quotes from some of the letters about each person.  I appreciate the judge so much I think I'll write him a letter.  The other thing I appreciated he did is that he spoke about Chase and his goodness too.  It felt like a true, honorable judge thing to do, to honor both sides.  He gave Chase the sentence of 17 years in prison in the end, and 18 months of custody.  He also ordered the speeding device to be put in his car from here on out.  

When everything finally ended, it felt a bit anti-climatic, because there was no gavelin that fell, and no "Court dismissed" like I thought there would be.  Everyone just sort of stirred until finally the judge stood and we all stood, and then it was over. 

The most touching part of the whole day for me, was that every single person that spoke had grace, compassion, and forgiveness to Chase, even though he has devasted our lives forever by his reckless actions.  At the end of the court proceeding, we gave lots of hugs.  Jaron even hugged Chase's Mom and spoke to her.  Someone later told me that was the most touching thing of the whole event.  After hugs and tears from family members and friends, everyone slowly filed out of the courtroom accept for Liv who seemed upset.  I asked her if she was ok and she said, I wanted to know which prison he was going to. I told her I would take her to ask, so we both walked up to the prosecuting attorney Amy Freedheim and asked.  When Amy said she didn't really know yet Liv said "So is their a chance he will go to Walla Walla?" it was clear she had done some thinking and research on the matter and that she was really concerned about where Chase would end up.  Amy told us that was where all the most violent criminals go, and that he would not go there.  She said he also wouldn't go to McNeil Island- where all the sex offenders go. Liv looked somewhat relieved.  She then said "He will probably go to Monroe".  Liv's questions and worry didn't stop there. She then asked if he would be sharing a cel with someone, but Amy didn't know the answer.  Then Liv said "I understand their are sometimes gangs in jails, will Chase be protected from them?"  Amy was taken back I think by all of Liv's compassionate questions, which she couldn't answer all of.  I was touched by Liv's empathy.  When I asked my other two kids in the car how the hearing was for them Ruby said "It was sad! I don't want Chase to go to jail for 70 years" I clarified it was 17 not 70, but she said "Oh, that's better, but still!".  Then Warner after some reluctance answering the question of "How he felt" finally said "I mean I wish Chase didn't have to go to jail".  

I want to speak for just a moment at how incredible this is- that these kids whose whole world has been torn apart by this 19 year old kid, could think of nothing besides his welfare in a moment when most the world would have been chomping at the bit to see the book thrown at him.  The spirit touched my heart that day, and helped me see that these merciful feelings of compassion and love, towards someone for all intents and purposes deserves the name of enemy more than any other human they have ever come across in their lives, were because of a life time of learning about and trying to follow their savior Jesus Christ.  Nothing I have done created this compassion in them.  It's from a lifetime of taking the bread and water, and making covenants with God to take His name upon him.  It's from girls and young mens camps, and seminary lessons.  All these things have been poured into who my children are becoming, and it's working out for the best.  I'm so grateful for them, and grateful it's over.  I pray that Chase can re-write his story and become a better man.