Britt Reid was sentenced to a 3-year prison term for his drunk driving accident causing severe and permanent injuries to Ariel Young.
Former Kansas City Chiefs coach Britt Reid (son of head coach Andy Reid) has officially been sentenced from the plea deal struck with the State. As you are likely well aware, on February 4, 2021, Reid was driving home from the Chiefs facilities when he struck a vehicle causing severe and permanent injuries to 5-year-old Ariel Young.
Reid admitted to drinking at the Chiefs’ facilities prior to getting behind the wheel. The Chiefs reached a confidential settlement with Ariel’s family that included medical care and additional provisions for the remainder of her life.
The length of this sentence is not all that surprising. While the maximum sentence for this crime was seven years, as part of the agreement, prosecutors agreed not to ask for more than four.
Reid’s attorney asked that Reid be placed on probation, noting he had publicly apologized and was remorseful. Ariel’s family opposed the plea deal and wanted Reid to be sentenced to a maximum of seven years.
"“The victims of this crime are outraged the defendant was not sentenced to the maximum sentence allowable by law,” Tom Porto, the attorney representing Young’s family, said in a statement to KSHB 41. “No amount of prison time will ever be enough to punish the defendant for the pain and suffering he caused this family and the ongoing difficulties that Ariel will continue to endure for the rest of her life.”"
The judge ultimately makes the decision as to sentencing (helped with guidelines) and looks at mitigating factors or enhancing factors in determining an appropriate sentence.
Information that was likely considered in this case would have been the fact that Reid had previous run-ins with the law and graduated from a drug treatment program in Pennsylvania in 2009. The judge certainly also considered Reid’s actions since the accident and his appearance at the entry of the plea. If he did appear remorseful and apologetic, that could sway the judge.
Ultimately, he received a “middle ground” sort of sentence, not terribly surprising given the two sides’ separate recommendations and requests. Hopefully, Reid can spend this time learning from his mistakes, and of course, we hope for continued healing and progress for Ariel.