By Betsy Finklea
Jonathan Douglas Brown, age 25, pled guilty to Felony DUI with death resulting in a highly emotional plea for both families in front of Judge Paul Burch on June 19th.
Attorney Tim Ammons represented Brown. Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel represented the State.
Brown was sentenced to 15 1/2 years with credit for time served. The maximum sentence he could have received was 25 years.

Daniel said the incident occurred in October 2017. He said the life of Challissah L’ecole J. Mills “came to a way to early end” when her vehicle was hit by the vehicle driven by the defendant, who had two passengers in his vehicle. Daniel said that Brown was driving 101 mph one second before impact and the vehicle’s brake switch was open and not engaged. He said Mills died of significant bleeding and swelling of the brain.
Ammons said that Brown was 24 when this occurred and that he had expressed remorse from the beginning. He said that Brown was a 2011 Dillon Christian School and was being groomed to take over the family electric business. Ammons noted that the vehicle’s black box also stated that Brown’s vehicle decreased RPMs one second before impact and that the accelerator pedal was not engaged one second before impact. He said witnesses stated that Brown was going about 75 mph, but that the bottom line was that he was speeding. He also stated that witnesses stated that the victim had on her right turn signal, but turned left. Ammons said Brown told him that he was not putting the victim’s family through a trial so he pursued the best possible plea for his client.
Several members of Brown’s family offered comments on his behalf. They said he was a good young man who made a bad decision and that he knew he was wrong and was remorseful. Several expressed that though he made a terrible mistake that they still loved him. One family member asked the judge to show compassion and mercy on him. She said the parents who reared him may not see him outside of jail again.
Brown accepted responsibility for his actions. “I am remorseful,” Brown said. “I never thought I would take someone’s life.”
He said the victim was not doing anything wrong, and here he comes and takes her from her family.
Brown said he was 100 percent to blame. He said this family needs justice. He said he was prepared for this.
Daniel said this was a tragedy, and there were no winners. He said at least Brown’s family can visit or receive a call. Daniel said the family he represented did not have that ability.
The victim’s mother talked about the range of emotions she had been through since the tragedy. She described her daughter was a loving, caring person. She said it was a parent’s worst nightmare. She said it was not an accident. “It was a choice,” she said. “It is a homicide.”
Her sister described the victim’s pretty smile, her deep loud laugh, and her fearlessness. She said now there is not a trace of her sister’s DNA left in this world. She asked for the maximum sentence.
She said a piece of their heart had been ripped from them. She also asked for a harsh sentence so that other young men would make better decisions when they got behind the wheel of a car.
Another sister called the victim “an amazing protector.” She said they lost her, but the whole world lost her. “What a disservice,” she said.
After all statement were made, Daniel said the State recommended a 20 year sentence.
Judge Burch said they had two fine families who had been thrown into a tragedy that should not have occurred. He talked about forgiveness and putting this behind them. He said when someone comes before the bar and takes their medicine and saves the grief and agony of a trail, he feels they should be given some credit. He made a few more remarks and issued his sentence.