Mother Lets Son Drive Unlawfully, Multiple Charges Follow



A local woman and her son both ran from of the law recently after she let him drive her vehicle even though she was aware his license was revoked. Following a chase through fields and woods, both were apprehended.

Cannon County Sheriff's Detective Matt Goney was traveling north on Pleasant View Road at approximately 4:10 p.m. on Oct. 1 when he observed a maroon Nissan Pathfinder traveling southbound.

As the vehicle approached Det. Goney's car, he noticed that Christopher Paul Lafever was driving and an an older female was in the passenger seat. While the vehicle was passing, Det. Goney noticed Lafever waving at him.

As Goney looked for a place to turn around, he remembered Lafever telling him within the past two weeks (while Lafever was incarcerated) that he didn't have a license. Goney was on the phone with Deputy Brandon Gullett while the incident was taking place, and Deputy Gullett advised Goney that Lafever's license was in fact revoked.

Goney made contact with the vehicle Lafever was driving as Lafever turned on to Parker Road. Goney noticed Lafever speeding up while he was communicating with dispatch.

"My emergency equipment was initiated," Goney wrote in his report. "We sped up, and we almost came to a stop. As we slowed down, he (Lafever) then floored it and took back off. He was traveling all over the road including the oncoming lane.

"Mr. Lafever made an abrupt right turn onto a field in front of 2390 Parker Road. We traveled through the first field which had recently been harvested. He traveled through the field and into another one. We traveled a long distance and then he decided to approach the woods at the end of the field. He then slammed on the brakes.

"Mr. Lafever began to partially hang out the window holding a white plastic bag that contained something while entering the woods. I saw that the bag appeared to be tied on top. It was similar to a grocery bag. Mr. Lafever was driving with his right hand and holding he bag in his left hand. Some brush hit his head and knocked his baseball cap off.

"This is when he tossed the bag into the woods just off a driven path. He kept traveling through the woods until approaching some trees at which time he jumped out of a rolling vehicle. Mr. Lafever ran straight down towards the bottom of the hill. He was apprehended without any further incident at the bottom of the hill."

Det. Goney reports that Lafever pleaded with him to let him go, with Lafever stating, "I thought you were just playing with me."

Goney and Deputy Gullett were unable to locate the white bag after conducting a search in brush which was thick and full of briars. "There is no bag, you don't know what you're talking about," Goney reported Lafever as stating after he was handcuffed and placed in the back of Gullet's patrol unit.

Goney reported Lafever's mother, Linda Darlene Holt, said she knew her son did not have a license.

Both Lafever and Holt reside at 903-A Old McMinnville Road, Woodbury.

Lafever was charged with Driving on a Revoked License 7th offense and Felony Evading Arrest in a Motor Vehicle. He remains in jaul under $13,500 bond. Initial court appearance is Nov. 9.

Holt was charged with Allowing an Unlicensed Driver to Drive. She was released on $1,000 bond. Initial court date is Nov. 9.