Suspect pleads guilty in high-speed chase, crash that killed 92-year-old man

In a courtroom filled with family and friends of the victim, a 20-year-old man entered a guilty plea Friday to charges stemming from a high-speed chase that resulted in a fatal crash last year in Brighton. Theophilus Parks, who was a passenger in the stolen vehicle, accepted a plea deal that includes a 10-year prison sentence. His younger brother, Theodice Parks, 17, who was allegedly the driver during the crash, also appeared in court Friday, but declined a plea offer. Theodice is accused of leading police on a high-speed pursuit before crashing into another vehicle being driven by Thomas Chase, 92, at East and Elmwood avenues in Brighton Aug. 22, 2024. Chase was killed in the crash. "The front seat passenger involved in the incident did take his right to engage in the plea offer," Merrick Sadler, chief of Monroe County's vehicular crimes bureau. "He had to plead guilty to the court's offer of 10 years altogether." Sadler sympathized with Chase's family and supporters who attended Friday's court session. "I can't speak for them, you know, I don't want to put myself in their shoes, but I think that there is some conclusion when anyone pleads guilty," Sadler said. "Hopefully, it will help them find peace as it relates to his involvement in this collision." Police said Theodice was on parole for burglary at the time of the incident and was arrested in early 2023 for at least 12 burglaries across the city. He is charged with murder in Chase's death. An offer was made for Theodice to plead guilty to first-degree assault to satisfy all charges in the indictment. After denying that deal, his trial was scheduled for Aug. 4. READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/suspect... _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: 13 WHAM on Facebook:   / 13wham   13 WHAM on Twitter:   / 13wham   Subscribe to 13 WHAM on YouTube:    / @13whamtvnews   13 WHAM Daily News Digest:    • 13WHAM Local News Digest   For more information, visit https://13wham.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 585.334.8700 WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #13WHAM #ABCLOCAL13 #Rochester