KENT COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The parents of a Jared Chance, the man found guilty for the brutal murder of an Oshtemo woman, are getting jail time, but not as much as originally expected.
James and Barbara Chance are each charged for being an accessory after the fact in their son’s murder and dismemberment of Ashley Young. Barbara took a plea deal and was also charged with perjury when her husband’s charge was acquitted.
Through a video Friday morning, 78-year-old James Chance, Jared’s father, was sentenced to a month in jail, one year of probation, and house arrest with a tether for 11 months.
Jared’s mother, Barbara Chance, will spend 45 days in jail.
Last October, 30-year-old Jared Chance was sentenced to 100-to-200 years for second degree murder, three counts of tampering with evidence, and one count each of mutilating a dead body and concealing a death after parts of Young’s body and other gruesome evidence were found in his Grand Rapids home in December of 2018.
On Friday, Ashley’s mother Kristine Young confronted the couple during the virtual sentencing as she held a photo of her daughter. “I will never believe you didn’t know what your son did,” Young said.
In January, James, a retired police officer, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact after nearly 12 hours of deliberations; however, the jury found him not guilty of the more serious charge, one count of perjury.
James was first facing a possible maximum of 0-6 months in prison for the accessory after the fact conviction. The prosecution fought for more than 6 months, but he only received a month.
During the sentencing James’ defense attorney called him a good, deeply spiritual man and claimed that the 78-year-old suffered a stroke and would be vulnerable to the coronavirus in prison.
James was remorseful throughout the sentencing, saying he grieves for the murder of Ashley Young.
