For Immediate Release
9/20/2016
A 31-year-old Kansas City man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for causing in July 2013 the death of Michael Chou, a KCPD crime scene investigator, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
A Jackson County judge late Monday sentenced Larneal Davis, dob 7/5/1985, to 22 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, 4 years for leaving the scene of an accident. In addition, Davis was fined $200 for Driving While Revoked (by statute a fine was the only possible sentence).
Chou was killed July 5, 2013, just after he left the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory where he had been working a night shift. Davis' vehicle was traveling up to 105 mph just before it broadsided Chou’s vehicle, killing the young crime scene investigator. Earlier that evening, Davis had celebrated his birthday at a nearby nightclub and consumed alcohol. At the scene, officers detected the strong odor of alcohol on Davis and his blood-alcohol was .083 hours after the collision.
A Jackson County jury convicted Davis on the three counts on July 21.
In 2015, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tammy Dickinson, announced that Davis was sentenced in federal four for illegally possessing firearms following the collision. Davis was sentenced by a federal judge to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Under federal law it is illegal for someone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or ammunition. Davis had prior felony convictions for drug possession and carrying a firearm in connection with a drug offense.
Jackson County prosecutors Brady Twenter and Dan Portnoy prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile: (816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.