Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Deadly Crash that Killed Galveston Teens
GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — A 29-year-old man, who caused a deadly crash that killed two Galveston teens less than 8 hours after being paroled, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Monday.
Charges and Victims
Keith Aaron Brazier was charged with two counts of murder and one count of intoxicated assault for the violent crash that killed 14-year-olds Mason Nelson and Sam Mixon on Sept. 2, 2022.
Hannah Jackson, a third teen, suffered a severe brain injury and survived. Two others in their Jeep were not hurt.
The Courtroom Hearing
With help from a walker, Jackson entered a Galveston courtroom Monday morning. The boys’ friends also filled the seats for the hearing. The victims’ fathers said no one wanted more trauma.
“Everyone has done such an amazing job. After some soul-searching (for) our families, more trauma, going through the trial was not what we wanted to do,” Scott Mixon, Sam’s father, explained afterward.
The Crash and Brazier’s Parole
The crash happened in front of Ball High School, where the teens were students, at about 6 p.m. According to investigators, They had just left a volleyball game when Brazier, who was behind the wheel of an SUV and with a blood alcohol content of .217, more than two times the legal limit, slammed into their Jeep.
Just seven and a half hours earlier, Brazier was released on parole from prison for multiple drunk driving convictions. Investigators said he then hit the bars in Galveston to celebrate.
Victim Impact Statements and Plea Deal
During victim impact statements, which came after Brazier pleaded guilty, Reid Nelson, Mason’s father, referenced an enlarged photo of the boys that Jackson took 15 minutes before the crash.
“This is the last picture taken of my son,” he said. “And this is the last picture taken of Sam.”
Brazier’s court-appointed attorney, Calvin Parks, said his client felt remorse.
After the hearing, there were hugs and tears. The victims’ families pushed for and approved the plea deal, the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office said.
Closure for the Families
“It is the closing of a chapter. It allows the families to have one less thing to worry about, especially over the holidays, which is what we feel strongly about,” Nelson said after court. “It does not make it one thing, one iota better, but it closes that chapter. We take the wins where we can get them.”
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A 29-year-old man, Keith Aaron Brazier, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for causing a deadly crash that killed two Galveston teens. The incident occurred less than 8 hours after Brazier was paroled. He pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one count of intoxicated assault for the violent crash that took the lives of 14-year-olds Mason Nelson and Sam Mixon on September 2, 2022.
Hannah Jackson, another teen involved in the crash, survived but suffered a severe brain injury. The crash took place in front of Ball High School, where the victims were students, at around 6 p.m. Brazier, who was driving an SUV with a blood alcohol content of .217, more than two times the legal limit, collided with their Jeep shortly after they left a volleyball game.
Brazier had been released on parole just seven and a half hours prior to the crash, following multiple drunk driving convictions. Investigators revealed that he had visited bars in Galveston to celebrate his release.
During the courtroom hearing, Jackson, aided by a walker, entered the Galveston courtroom. The friends of the deceased teens also attended the hearing. The victims’ fathers expressed their desire to avoid further trauma and stated that going through a trial was not what they wanted.
Victim impact statements were given after Brazier pleaded guilty. Reid Nelson, Mason’s father, shared an enlarged photo taken by Jackson just 15 minutes before the crash, emphasizing that it was the last picture taken of his son and Sam. Brazier’s court-appointed attorney, Calvin Parks, mentioned that his client felt remorse.
Following the hearing, there were emotional moments with hugs and tears. The plea deal, which resulted in Brazier’s 50-year prison sentence, was approved by the victims’ families and supported by the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office. The families viewed it as a step towards closure and a way to alleviate some of their worries, especially during the holidays.
For more updates on this story, you can follow Jessica Willey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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