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Gov. Mike Parson’s decision to shorten the prison sentence of former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid drew widespread criticism Saturday.

The governor, an avid Chiefs fan who is finishing his last year in office, announced Friday he was commuting Reid’s three-year sentence to house arrest.

Reid, the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, had been sentenced to prison in November 2022 after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury.

A girl inside one of the cars, 5-year-old Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury.

A spokesman for Missouri’s Republican chief executive said Reid had completed his alcohol abuse treatment program and has served more prison time than most individuals convicted of similar offenses.

On Saturday, Kansas City Star sports columnist Vahe Gregorian contrasted Parson’s decision on Reid with the governor’s refusal to pardon Kevin Strickland after a prosecutor said Strickland was “factually innocent� of the crime.

Parson, , “couldn’t see the urgency in freeing an innocent man imprisoned most of his life ... yet inexplicably made it a priority to hasten out a man who proclaimed his guilt in court.� (Strickland was exonerated and ordered released by a judge about six months after the pardon request was made to Parson.)

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican running for governor, was among politicians questioning Parson’s decision.

“While I don’t have all the facts, it is not a good look for the Governor and not something I believe I would do,� Ashcroft said in a statement. “Britt Reid’s reckless decision to drive drunk left Ariel Young with a lifelong traumatic brain injury and while the Reid family obviously holds a special place in the hearts of Missourians and Kansas City Chiefs’ fans, that does not entitle them to special treatment.�

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, : “I cannot imagine the pain this must cause to the family of the victim, an innocent 5-year-old girl whose life is forever changed. This is not justice.�

“,� echoed Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, also on X.

Justice Horn, chair of the LGBTQ Commission of Kansas City, : “There are two systems of justice in this country.�

, a political consultant and former journalist: “A veteran national Republican operative just called me to ask if this is possibly true. After I confirmed it, they cursed and added: ‘This is the dumbest thing by a Missouri Republican since Todd Akin.’� (Akin’s run for the U.S. Senate was derailed in 2012 after he said women who are victims of “legitimate rape� rarely got pregnant.)

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, a Democrat, , saying the governor’s office did not contact the family of Reid’s victim to inform them of the commutation.

“We are reminded that this governor did not use his political power to commute the sentence of Kevin Strickland and Lamar Johnson,� Baker said. “He used his political power to free a man with status, privilege and connections. Both Kevin and Lamar are freed today under the rule of law, but only after difficult battles to gain their freedom.�

Rep. Keri Ingle, a Kansas City Democrat, said, “I really cannot imagine any justification for commuting a drunk driver who severely injured a 5-year-old.�

Mike Ferguson, host of a morning program on conservative NewsTalkSTL (101.9 FM), : “The measly three-year sentence for the DUI that hurt so many people was bad enough. This commutation adds insult to the literal life-altering injuries of a five-year-old girl. A request like this should have never even made it to Governor Parson’s desk.�

Chiefs fans and even a self-described Parson supporter also said they were disappointed. A sampling from social media:

“I know the Reids. Great people. I love the Chiefs and I am a Parson supporter. However, .�

“When Gov. Parson commuted the sentence for Britt Reid, .�

“I love the Chiefs and I love Andy Reid. [expletive]. Parson has no business leading this state.�

, one commenter wrote: “Enjoy the season tickets Mike.�

Prosecutors said Reid was intoxicated and driving about 84 mph in a 65 mph zone when his Dodge truck hit the cars on an entrance ramp to Interstate 435 near Arrowhead Stadium on Feb. 4, 2021.

A total of six people, including Ariel Young and Reid, were injured. One of the vehicles he hit had stalled because of a dead battery, and the second was owned by Ariel’s mother, who had arrived to help.

Reid had a blood-alcohol level of 0.113% two hours after the crash, police said. The legal limit is 0.08%.

The Chiefs reached a confidential agreement with Ariel’s family to pay for her ongoing medical treatment and other expenses.

The Chiefs declined to comment about Parson’s commutation of Reid.

The Kansas City Star reported that Ariel’s mother, Felicia Miller, in a statement read by assistant Jackson County prosecutor Brady Twenter during the sentencing hearing in 2022, said her daughter still suffers from the crash. She drags her right foot when she walks, has trouble keeping her balance and becomes nauseated during car rides. Ariel takes special education classes and now wears thick glasses.

“This is our life,� Miller said in the statement. “Ariel’s life is forever changed because of Britt Reid. Her life will be dealing with the damage that Britt Reid did. “She will deal with the effects of his actions every day for the rest of her life.

Parson, a former sheriff, has now granted clemency to more than 760 people since 2020 — more than any Missouri governor since the 1940s. Parson has been working to clear a backlog of nearly 3,700 clemency applications he inherited when taking over as governor in 2018, but he also has considered some new requests.

Many of those granted clemency by Parson were convicted decades ago of drug crimes, theft or burglary and had completed their prison sentences long ago.

But two notable exceptions were Mark and Patricia McCloskey. The St. Louis couple who gained national attention for waving guns at racial injustice protesters were pardoned by Parson on July 30, 2021, just six weeks after Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment.

Includes reporting by the Associated Press and the Kansas City Star.

Originally posted at noon Saturday, March 2.