GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 6, 2026) – On Friday, Jian Bin Chen was sentenced to 12 years in the Department of Corrections for the March 2025 wrong-way DUI crash that killed young mother Jody Chavez in Wheat Ridge.
In the early morning hours of March 13, 2025, 911 dispatchers received numerous calls reporting a wrong-way driver on I-70. CDOT footage later captured motorists flashing their lights at Chen’s Lexus as he continued driving in the wrong direction. Vehicle data revealed that Chen was traveling at 51 mph and never applied his brakes before the impact.
Two hours after the crash, Chen’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was .150.
On February 25, 2026, just days before his trial was scheduled to begin, Chen pleaded guilty to all counts. Following the entry of the plea, his bond was revoked, and he was remanded into the custody of the Jefferson County Jail, where he has remained pending his transfer to the Department of Corrections.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Ali Brady argued for a 12-year prison sentence, the maximum allowed under Colorado law. Brady highlighted Chen’s 2019 DUI conviction and a subsequent 2020 guilty plea for evading a court-ordered ignition interlock device. Despite his history, Brady emphasized that the gravity of the current crime stood on its own, stating, “the facts of this case, on their own, justify a twelve-year Department of Corrections sentence.”
Brady further noted that Chen had over $1,000 cash in his possession at the time of the crash. “He could have used that to purchase an Uber; that money could have saved a life, and instead, it stayed in his pocket.”
District Court Judge Phillip McNulty heard emotional testimony from Jody Chavez’s loved ones regarding the devastating impact of her death. Chavez, a devoted mother, was killed instantly. Her two-year-old child was secured in the backseat at the time of the collision and survived with minor injuries. In the chaotic moments following the collision, a good Samaritan stepped in to console the child while first responders worked the scene.
Jody’s husband, Steven Chavez, spoke to the court about the “exceptional and outstanding” way his wife lived her life.
“She loved being a wife and a mom,” Chavez said. “To Mr. Chen, twelve years sounds like a long time, to his family, twelve years probably sounds like a long time, to the legislators, it might sound like a long time – since it’s their max sentence, but in reality, twelve years is a drop in the bucket. At least he gets to go home to his family. My wife will never get to come home.”
Chavez’s older sister added, “Given the enormity of our grief, and everything Jian stole from us, the life and future he stole from Jody, there isn’t a prison sentence sufficient for the heartache he’s created. Twelve years isn’t enough.”
Judge McNulty began by acknowledging that he was bound by the sentencing ranges determined by the legislature, which in this case was twelve years in the Department of Corrections.
“I have to look at the result of what happened here, and the result was horrific,” McNulty stated. He noted that the aggravation in the case, including the 2019 DUI and the evasion of an ignition interlock device, far outweighed any mitigation. “Anything less than the maximum sentence in this case would seriously undermine the tragic consequences.”
The Court sentenced Chen on the following counts (to run concurrently):
- Count 1: 12 years DOC (Vehicular Homicide – DUI)
- Count 2: 6 years DOC (Vehicular Homicide – Reckless)
- Count 3: 120 days county jail (Reckless Endangerment)
- Count 4: 1 year county jail (DUI – 2nd Offense)
- Count 5: 90 days jail (Reckless Driving)
- Count 7: 364 days jail (Careless Driving)
- Counts 6 & 9: Fines for traffic violations
Count eight, No Proof of Insurance, was dismissed by prosecutors because Chen was insured at the time.
Statement from Chief Deputy District Attorney Ali Brady:
“This was an aggravated case with a devastating outcome. Jodi Chavez, a young mother going about her morning routine with her toddler secured in the backseat, was killed because the defendant chose to drive under the influence of alcohol. Impaired driving is not an accident; it is a choice with irreversible consequences. We are grateful to the Wheat Ridge Police Department for the thorough investigation that led to a guilty plea on all counts. Our office fought for the maximum 12-year sentence under Colorado law to ensure full accountability and secure the justice Jodi’s loved ones and our community deserve.”
Statement from Chief Chris Murtha of the Wheat Ridge Police Department:
“Our Crash and Traffic Team left no stone unturned in this investigation, and this sentencing reflects their unwavering commitment to pursuing justice,” said Wheat Ridge Police Chief Chris Murtha. “This was a senseless act that ripped away a beloved mother and community member. We will continue to hold those who do harm in our community accountable.”
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