Missouri Governor Mike Parson has made the decision to shorten the prison sentence of former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid, who was involved in a drunken driving crash that severely injured a 5-year-old girl.
The commutation, announced on Friday, converted the remainder of Reid’s three-year prison sentence to house arrest, with certain conditions attached. Reid had been sentenced in November 2022 after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. Notably, he is the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid.
Governor Parson, a longtime Chiefs season ticket-holder who recently celebrated with the team at its Super Bowl victory parade, considered various factors before making this decision, according to his spokesman Johnathan Shiflett. Shiflett noted that Reid had completed his alcohol abuse treatment program and had already served more prison time than many individuals convicted of similar offenses.
Under the terms of his house arrest, Reid will remain under supervision until October 31, 2025. He will be required to attend weekly meetings with a parole officer and peer support sponsor, participate in behavioral counseling, work a minimum of 30 hours per week, and complete 10 hours of community service per month, among other obligations.
The decision by Governor Parson has not been without controversy. Prosecutors stated that Reid was intoxicated and driving at around 84 mph in a 65 mph zone when his Dodge truck collided with two cars on an entrance ramp to Interstate 435 near Arrowhead Stadium on February 4, 2021. Among the injured was Ariel Young, who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the crash.
The commutation of Reid’s sentence has drawn attention from various quarters, with the Chiefs declining to comment on the governor’s decision.
As discussions continue regarding the appropriate consequences for Reid’s actions, the case serves as a reminder of the enduring impacts of drunk driving and the complexities involved in administering justice in such cases.
