Man gets prison for leaving crash that killed Metro volunteer

By Bethany Barnes

Published Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 | 10:14 a.m.

Updated Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 | 10:59 a.m.

A man who left the scene of an accident that killed a 19-year-old Metro Police volunteer got the maximum prison sentence today of six to 15 years.

Clark County District Court Judge Stefany Miley, who struggled to hold back tears while the victim’s family testified, sentenced Jvon Williams, 29, who pleaded guilty in September to leaving the scene of the accident, a felony.

Williams apologized to the family in court.

“I’m not trying to make excuses,” Williams said. “I have no excuse for that night. It was a poor decision, one I will regret for the rest of my days.”

The accident occurred Aug. 1 when, according to police reports, Williams allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign near East Sahara Avenue and Van Patten Place and caused Angel Velasquez, 19, who was riding a motorcycle, to crash into the Volkswagen Williams was driving.

Velasquez later died from his injuries.

Witnesses helped police track down Williams, but because he didn’t stay at the scene of the crash, it was difficult for prosecutors to charge him with anything other than leaving the scene of the accident, officials said.

Williams’ blood-alcohol test, conducted four hours, 35 minutes after the accident, came back at .04 percent, Chief Deputy District Attorney Eric Bauman said. The legal limit is .08 percent.

Williams’ attorney Jess Marchese said Williams is a veteran who self-medicated with drugs and alcohol.

Williams had one prior DUI conviction.

“When you are a member of the military and you have post traumatic stress disorder, I think it shows why we are here today,” Marchese said.

Angel Velasquez’s sister Jacqueline Velasquez said Williams “is a criminal who needs serving justice. If he had been properly locked away the first time, maybe my family would not be here grieving here today.”

Angel Velasquez’s father also spoke, showing the court a large photograph of his son. He said he was nervous because he’d forgotten his statement, so he was speaking from his heart.

“I looked at the judge and I could see her wiping tears,” Ernesto Velasquez told prosecutors outside the courtroom. “I was overwhelmed.”

Angel Velasquez was a captain in the Metro Police Explorer Program, which teaches young people about law enforcement.

He wanted to know everything about being an officer, according to those close to him in the program.

While most Explorers take one or two years to make captain, Velasquez earned the rank in months, adviser Andrea King said previously. He scored a rare 98 percent on the exam.