Man sentenced for killing man in deadly Topeka crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY (KSNT) – A man convicted of murder for his role in a deadly a vehicle crash in 2020 was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced in a press release that Chad T. Cuevas was sentenced to life in prison on Aug. 28. His sentence comes after he was found guilty of first degree murder in connection to the death of Emerson Downing five years ago.

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Topeka police responded to a report of a person hit by a vehicle on Feb. 17, 2020 in the 1500 block of Northwest Tyler Street. Police found Downing in a field suffering from serious injuries.

Downing would later die from his injuries. A witness provided police with a description of the vehicle that hit Downing, and this description would later be used by police to locate the car and Cuevas.

“Violent crime will not be tolerated in Shawnee County,” Kagay said. “This sentence ensures that Chad Cuevas is held fully accountable for taking an innocent life and makes clear that those who choose violence will face the harshest consequences under the law. Justice demands nothing less.”

Kagay said Cuevas must serve 618 months (51 years and 5 months) before he is eligible for parole. He will remain in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections until he is moved to the State of Kansas Department of Corrections to begin his sentence.

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