Lawson Chadwick sentenced to up to 40 years in prison
By KCRG-TV9 Staff |
Posted: Mon 7:07 PM, Jul 11, 2016 |
Updated: Mon 11:39 PM, Jul 11, 2016
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) -- The man who led police on a high-speed chase that ended in crash that killed a Cedar Rapids city employee and Palo volunteer firefighter will spend up to 40 years in prison.
On Monday, a judge sentenced 48-year-old Lawson Chadwick, of Cedar Rapids, to 25 years in prison for homicide by vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine and 15 years for first-degree theft as a habitual offender. The sentences will run consecutively.
Chadwick made a statement to the court at the sentencing, saying he accepts full responsibility for the crash. He recognized 35-year-old Stephen Cook, who died in the crash April 2015, was a good person and feels very sorry for his actions.
Chadwick was fleeing from police after they tried to pull him over for a registration violation near 10th Street and 8th Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids. That led to a chase that resulted in a collision near 9th Street and 16th Avenue with the city vehicle Cook was driving. Cook died a day later from his injuries at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Chadwick was originally charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, but prosecutors agreed to drop the charges as part of a plea deal.
The theft charge stems from Chadwick having stolen computer equipment, tools, and other items from Acro Manufacturing in his pickup truck at the time of the crash.