SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Nearly four years after a deadly crash, a Sioux Falls man has now officially pleaded guilty.
27-year-old Tayten Stebbins admits driving drunk and speeding between 80 to 100 miles per hour on Arrowhead Parkway when he ran a red light causing a crash that killed two high schoolers. Stebbins suffered traumatic brain damage, which led to the courts questioning whether or not he was competent to stand trial.
Tayten Stebbins was back in a courtroom Wednesday for the first time since a judge found he is competent to stand trial. In this hearing, he pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter.
Stebbins told the judge he does not remember the crash on May 8th, 2021, adding he has no full, vivid memories of anything in life. Everything he was agreeing to be guilty of was based off of police reports, photos and what others have told him.
Under this plea agreement, all other charges filed against Stebbins are dismissed including vehicular homicide, vehicular battery and driving under the influence. The State is asking for a sentence cap of 25 years in prison for each of his victims – Javier Valasquez and Pascal Niyonkuru.
A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered and once that is finished a sentencing hearing will be scheduled. In court today, the judge did agree to allow for a whole day to be blocked out for that sentencing hearing to allow for the breaks Stebbins needs.
