A Robbins man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for his part in a drag racing crash that killed a Robbins couple nearly a year ago, according to court records.
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Douglas McGrew, 26, was one of two men charged following the Aug. 27, 2015, crash that killed Less Jones, 59, and Cherise Davis-Jones, 43. The other defendant, Craig Stevenson, 42, of Lynwood, remains in custody on similar charges.
Cook County Judge Brian Flaherty handed down the sentence on Aug. 2 inside his Markham courtroom after McGrew pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence.
McGrew originally faced more than 70 criminal counts, the majority of which were reckless homicide and aggravated DUI charges, after the car he was racing Stevenson in collided with the minivan that contained the Robbins couple and three of their young children, according to authorities and court records. None of the children — two boys ages 4 and 7 and an 8-year-old girl, at the time — were severely injured in the crash, but were treated for minor injuries.
The couple was headed home from a church function when the crash happened, police said.
Davis-Jones was driving the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country minivan west on 137th Street in Robbins when a 2001 Buick Regal and a 2005 Nissan Altima blew past the stop sign at Central Park Avenue “at a high rate of speed,” police said. Investigators estimated the cars were traveling at a minimum of 50-60 mph.
McGrew’s blood-alcohol level was 0.121, police said, about 1 1/2 times the legal limit. He was hospitalized after the crash.
Davis-Jones and Jones had been married for more than 10 years, family members said. The parents of Davis-Jones took custody of four of the couple’s children.
Vigils were held for the slain couple, and a fundraiser was held at the family’s church in Robbins following the crash.
Stevenson is being held in Cook County jail on $800,000 bail. He returns to court Aug. 30.
Nick Swedberg is a freelancer reporter for the Daily Southtown.