ANOKA, Minn. (FOX 9) - A show of overwhelming compassion from the victim’s family is giving a deadly hit-and-run driver the chance to avoid prison for now.
But he will have to get sober and remain law-abiding for a decade or else he will spend nearly six years behind bars.John Jones was sentenced in Minnesota's Anoka County Thursday morning after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular homicide charges in the deadly October 2021 hit-and-run crash in Blaine that killed local Pilates studio owner, Bridget Dunn.Dunn was out for a midday walk with her dog when she was struck and left for dead on 109th Avenue Northeast on the edge of her Blaine neighborhood.The sentence handed down by Judge Melissa Saterbak initially avoids prison time for Jones if he complies with conditions of probation.
An agreement Dunn’s loved ones signed off on to give Jones a second chance.During an emotional 90-minute hearing, Dunn’s husband shared with the court why his family agreed to the unusual conditions for Jones."She (Bridget) is the greatest example of compassion, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and love.
She, more than anyone, is getting our family through this," Chris Dunn told the court. "So Mr. Jones should consider this second chance as a gift from Bridget.