Defendant Pleads Guilty as Charged to All Felony Counts

Thursday morning, Chase Jones — the driver who killed four people and injured two others in a March 19, 2024 crash near Renton — pleaded guilty as charged to all felony counts. The guilty pleas as charged were for:

• Vehicular Homicide for the reckless manner death of Andrea S. Hudson
• Vehicular Homicide for the reckless manner death of Boyd “Buster” Brown
• Vehicular Homicide for the reckless manner death of Matilda Wilcoxson
• Vehicular Homicide for the reckless manner death of Eloise Wilcoxson
• Vehicular Assault for the reckless manner aggravating injuries to Nolan Hudson
• Vehicular Assault for the reckless manner aggravating injuries to Charlotte Hudson

These guilty pleas as charged on all felony counts produces the same result as if Mr. Jones had gone to trial and been convicted of the felony crimes as charged.

“The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office would not have accepted anything less than a guilty plea as charged on all felony counts,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said.

Mr. Jones was not sentenced Thursday. His sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 25, 2025 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

His sentence will ultimately be up to a judge.

The Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault crimes in this case occurred because the driver drove in a reckless manner and is liable for the death and injuries he caused. The felony crimes that Chase Jones are convicted of are the most serious charges based on the admissible evidence and state law.

Nothing will make up for the loss of Andrea Hudson, Boyd “Buster” Brown, Matilda Wilcoxson, or Eloise Wilcoxson, and no sentence under the law can make up for the life-changing injuries and loss to Nolan and Charlotte Hudson, or the grief their loved ones and their community feels.

Vehicular homicide is Class A felony. All Class A felony crimes have a maximum of life in prison and a $50,000 fine — however, sentencing across the state of Washington is mandated according to the sentencing grid set by state lawmakers — and standard range penalties are very different than the maximum.

Statewide sentencing ranges are determined by an offender score, which can be based on previous criminal history and the current offenses. Chase Jones had no traffic infraction history and had no pending charges at the time of this crash. His convictions as charged today give him an offender score of 10.

Vehicular homicide (reckless manner) with an offender score of 10, has a standard sentencing range set by state lawmakers of 210–280 months (17.5–23.3 years). RCW section 9.92.080 says “whenever a person is convicted of two or more offenses which arise from a single act or omission, the sentences imposed therefor shall run concurrently,” except in rare circumstances. In other words, under state law a person can be convicted of multiple felony crimes and those offenses that happened on the same day are presumed under state law to be concurrent, but they do score against each other and that is why Chase Jones has an offender score of 10, not zero.

There is no guarantee of what would happen at a trial, even in cases that seem strong. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office would not have accepted anything less than a guilty plea as charged on all felony counts. As of this morning, Chase Jones is convicted of these crimes.

Mr. Jones did not plead to the gross misdemeanor charge of reckless driving, however, because of RCW 9.92.080 outlined above, a conviction for reckless driving in the fatality incident would not have brought additional jail time in this case with either a guilty plea as charged or with a conviction at trial.

The surviving victims and family members of the deceased from the crash were informed of the plea and of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s recommendation before Mr. Jones’ guilty plea as charged.

“They understand how the State is proceeding,” Amy Freedheim, Chair of the Felony Traffic Unit, told the Court at Thursday’s hearing. “They also understand that they are not bound by any recommendations to the Court and they are free to make any recommendations they wish to make to the Court at sentencing.

“They are present and supportive as to the plea as charged to the felony counts.”

Mr. Jones was taken into custody at the end of Thursday’s sentencing, and he remains in jail at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

The next update is anticipated after Mr. Jones’ sentencing hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. April 25, 2025 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The hearing is expected to last at least two hours, and the update will follow.

HB 1596 — also called the Andrea Smith Hudson Act in memory of one of the victims in this crash — is a bill making its way through the Washington State Legislature right now. The bill addresses speeding drivers and importantly will mandate the use of intelligent speed accessory devices that are akin to ignition interlock devices for alcohol impairment. These devices would limit a driver from going more than 10 mph over any posted speed limit. Virginia became the first state to mandate this safety item, and King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion is hopeful this bill will help reduce speed-related crashes and serious injuries.

Part of Chase Jones’ plea includes his agreement to require a speed-limiting device on any vehicle he drives in the future.

HB 1596 passed the State House last month and had a hearing Monday in the Senate’s Committee on Transportation. Andrea Hudson’s father testified in the House and Senate Public Hearings. Amy Freedheim, Chair of the Felony Traffic Unit and one of the prosecutors on Jones’ case, helped shape the Bill and testified in support.