In Harris County, Texas, a man convicted of causing a fatal crash while driving under the influence will be required to return to jail every year on the anniversary of the tragic incident. Jaggar Smith, who was 17 at the time of the July 25, 2018 crash that claimed the lives of his two teen passengers, Chloe Robison and Salma Gomez, now faces this unique form of annual accountability at the age of 22.
After confessing to consuming an entire bottle of MD 20/20 before driving his friends at high speed into a tree, resulting in their deaths, Smith was charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter. Despite the state seeking a 15-year prison sentence, Judge Josh Hill sentenced Smith to 10 years probation and 120 days in jail, served intermittently.
Court records reveal that Smith will serve 40 days starting on June 15, 2024, and another 40 days on June 15, 2025. Additionally, on July 25 of each year from 2026 to 2033, he must voluntarily report to the Harris County Jail for a five-day sentence. Furthermore, Smith’s driver’s license will be suspended for one year.
The sentencing, described by defense attorney Chip Lewis as “proper,” is intended to serve as a poignant reminder of the tragic consequences of drunk driving. Attorney Steve Shellist, not involved in the case, notes that the requirement to return to jail annually is a unique form of punishment designed to ensure Smith never forgets the gravity of his actions on the anniversary of the victims’ deaths.
