WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — The driver in a fiery crash that claimed the life of a young mother in November 2020 is headed to a state jail facility to begin a maximum sentence for her death.
In the 89th District Court on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, Charles Patrick Reyna, 32, of Wichita Falls , was formally sentenced by Judge Charles Barnard to two years behind bars after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide on Sept. 20.
Charles Reyna during sentencing in the 89th District Court (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)
Reyna also pled true to a motion to revoke his probation on a drug charge from June 2020. Scott Stillson, Reyna’s defense attorney, said he was sentenced to two years on that charge as well, which was set to run concurrently with his sentence for criminally negligent homicide.
Reyna was set to stand trial beginning on Sept. 23 for the second-degree felony offense of manslaughter stemming from the fatal crash. He faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Instead, on Sept. 20, 2024, Reyna pled to the lesser offense of criminally negligent homicide, a state jail felony with a maximum sentence of two years.
Reyna was originally indicted for manslaughter by a Wichita County grand jury in May 2022, more than 18 months after the fiery crash that claimed the life of Cheyanne Collinsworth in November 2020.
Scene of fiery crash on November 22, 2020 (Photo credit: KFDX/KJTL)
Authorities said Reyna was driving at high rates of speed just before 3 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in the 2000 block of Hampstead Lane, before he lost control and struck a tree, causing the car to catch fire.
Reyna was ejected from the vehicle following the crash and later taken to a hospital in Fort Worth with severe injuries.
Collinsworth, the passenger, died at the scene. She was a 24-year-old mother with a 2-year-old son who graduated from Seymour High School in 2014. She later attended Midwestern State University and worked in healthcare.
Several members of Collinsworth’s family attended Reyna’s sentencing hearing on Oct. 3. Prosecutor Chelsea Carlton, Wichita County’s Assistant District Attorney, read an impact statement on behalf of the family, drawing tears as it was read in open court.
Photo of Cheyanne Collinsworth (Photo courtesy Collinsworth’s Family)
“Cheyanne will always be the piece of the puzzle we’re missing,” the impact statement said.
In the statement, the family asked why Collinsworth’s death had to happen, rhetorically answering that it was because of Reyna’s actions.
“Cheyanne was the consequence,” the impact statement said. “We pray that she will be the last.”
This is a developing story. Stick with Texoma’s Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0