Convicted DUI driver sentenced to 17 years for the death of Hanford mother

HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's been 16 months since Kellie Rivera's decease shocked the assemblage of Hanford.

The parent of 4 was driving erstwhile she was deed and killed by a drunk operator successful December 2024.

Cameras were not allowed successful tribunal connected Tuesday, wherever loved ones had the accidental to code the tribunal successful beforehand of the already two-time convicted DUI offender, Phillip Andrew Chavez-Macias.

"This was a preventable calamity by his choice, driving arsenic accelerated arsenic helium was, arsenic drunk arsenic helium was, I mean, there's just, there's nary excuse for it. I consciousness immoderate level of relief, because, successful reality, it's done present that I don't person to interest astir a assemblage trial, and, much importantly, appeals," says Jonathan Rivera, Kellie's husband.

Chavez-Macias was facing execution charges and 15 years to beingness if the lawsuit had gone to trial.

A plea woody was a solution reached by some the suspect and the victim's family.

"He is going to service his 10 years, past helium is going to spell straight into the 7 years, truthful it volition beryllium 1 condemnation backmost to backmost to back," says Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker.

Jonathan Rivera, Kellie's hubby of 19 years and a Hanford Police Officer, is present raising their kids without his partner.

The children were ages 4 to 15 erstwhile their parent died.

"My oldest is present 17 and past my youngest is astir to crook six. But it's a modulation for each of us. They person to larn to measurement up successful ways that they shouldn't person to. I person to larn to measurement successful ways I shouldn't person to," says Jonathan.

In court, Chavez-Macias sat softly portion listening to loved ones picture the idiosyncratic helium killed.

The household shared unfortunate interaction statements, describing Kellie arsenic loving, kind, the champion parent and idiosyncratic who was loved by many.

And contempt their heartbreak and pain, galore said they person chosen to forgive.

"So my household believes successful Christ and believes that our sins are forgiven. It doesn't mean there's nary consequences. It conscionable means they're forgiven," expresses Jonathan.

More than fractional a twelve antithetic statements were work successful tribunal Tuesday morning, including from Kellie's children.

The eldest shared a heartfelt affectional poem connected the nonaccomplishment of his mother.

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