A Jaffrey man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase on Feb. 21 from Rindge into Jaffrey – that ended with him crashing the truck he was driving into a Jaffrey house – was taken into preventive custody Thursday.
Ryan J. Parent, 29, of Jaffrey arrived in court at the Cheshire County Superior Court Superior in Keene Thursday afternoon on crutches and asking that his scheduled arraignment be postponed. Instead, Judge David W. Ruoff proceeded with the arraignment, entering pleas of not guilty on Parent’s behalf, and ordered Parent be taken into preventive custody at the recommendation of County Prosecutor Chris McLaughlin.
“The facts are pretty bad and the only reason the trooper didn’t arrest you that night is because you were being treated for a broken leg. … The only reason the trooper didn’t arrest you and seek detention at the time was because it was impractical at the time and they wanted you to be able to walk again,” Ruoff said. “This is a high-speed pursuit. You could have killed somebody.”
Parent had filed a motion to continue the arraignment at a later date, due to his hospitalization, physical therapy and because he had not obtained an attorney yet.
Parent is charged with four felonies – aggravated DWI, disobeying a police officer, reckless conduct, driving after suspension.
Ruoff said the class B felonies are punishable by up to three and a half to seven years in the New Hampshire State Prison. He added he could also be placed on probation for five years, ordered to pay a fine of $4,000 for each offense and lose his license indefinitely.
“Your total sentencing exposure … could be 12 to 21 years in the state prison on these charges,” Ruoff said.
McLaughlin said Parent presents “a clear danger to the community” and asked that he be taken into custody.
A state police trooper reported in the arrest affidavit, he said, that Parent was driving a Chevrolet Silverado in excess of 100 miles per hour– at one point up to 109 miles an hour. Parent was also illegally passing multiple vehicles, almost causing a head-on collision, McLaughlin said, was weaving and swerving on the road and eventually crashed into a house on Route 202/River Street in Jaffrey. Parent was injured in the crash, with a broken leg, and was hospitalized.
McLaughlin said Parent has a 2008 aggravated DWI conviction in 2008. “He was underage at the time,” he said.
More recently Parent had another DWI conviction in December, he said. Both previous DWIs were class A misdemeanors.
“Given that history, given the conduct in this particular case the defendant presents a danger, to not only himself, but the community and I ask that he be remanded,” McLaughlin said.
Parent told Ruoff he has a lot of doctor’s appointments to keep and that he is not filing for a court-appointed attorney, but instead will be retaining private counsel.
Parent’s father told Ruoff that his son needs to work in order to provide for his four-year-old child.
“I know he has some drinking issues, and he’s a really good kid. He’s got a four-year-old son at home, my grandson, and he’s the one that’s supporting him,”
Parent’s father said. “As far as getting in trouble, outside of his drinking there, he can’t drink, he’s out on no drinking. I know he won’t get into trouble, your Honor. I can guarantee it. You can charge me if he did.”
Ruoff said, “The law doesn’t allow me to do that, sir.”
Ruoff said he is not concerned about Parent missing his court dates.
“This is about very dangerous conduct. This is about risks to communities, risks to people,” Ruoff said. “This is a big deal, you have to take this seriously.”
Parent was taken into custody. Ruoff told Parent that he can return to discuss bail once he has an attorney and that jail officials will ensure he makes it to his medical appointments.