Left inset: Rebekah Dauz (GoFundMe). Right inset: Maximiliano Chavez (KTNV/YouTube). Background: The scene of the deadly crash that Maximiliano Chavez caused in Las Vegas (KTNV/YouTube).
A Las Vegas man, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term following a multivehicle collision that critically injured several individuals, including a 9-year-old boy and his pregnant mother. Tragically, the incident led to the loss of her unborn child.
Maximiliano Chavez, aged 28, received a prison sentence ranging from 16 to 40 years after pleading guilty in February to two counts of driving under the influence, resulting in substantial bodily harm, and one count of reckless driving, according to court documents. Initially, he faced charges related to the death of Rebekah Dauz’s unborn child, referred to as “Baby Marlito,” but these were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
During his sentencing last Thursday, Chavez expressed remorse, stating, “I know I am going to go away, but I promise when I get out, I will be a better person,” as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Rebekah Dauz shared her emotional turmoil during the proceedings, recounting how the September 2025 crash has left her with lasting physical and emotional scars, and vivid flashbacks of her baby’s ultrasound.
“Every scar on my body is a reminder of that day and my loss,” Dauz tearfully expressed, according to the Review-Journal.
Chavez, who had prior DUI arrests in 2017 and 2021, admitted to being intoxicated and under the influence of THC during the incident. He was driving his Jeep at high speed on Blue Diamond Road after consuming multiple cocktails and smoking marijuana. The crash occurred when he ignored a red light and collided with a Subaru Forester carrying Dauz and her son, as well as a Toyota Sienna.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote in a Facebook post that because of Chavez’s “reckless and selfish decision to drive impaired … a baby’s life was stolen.”
Prosecutors on Thursday described how Dauz’s 9-year-old son, Isaiah, was in the ICU for several days after the crash and “close to death’s door.” The boy spoke about his recovery during the sentencing hearing.
“I am still healing and recovering slowly, but I believe I will continue to be better with time,” Isaiah said. “I also want Mr. Chavez to know that I forgive him and I will be praying for him.”
A GoFundMe launched for Dauz, who was seven months pregnant at the time of the crash, says she and her family had gone to a 4D ultrasound appointment “just before the accident,” per the description.
“We watched in awe as he smiled, sucked on his thumb, and moved around so full of life,” the fundraiser says. “We heard his strong heartbeat echo in the room, and we were all overwhelmed with love and excitement. That moment felt like a celebration of the life we were all preparing to welcome with open arms. We never imagined that soon after, everything would change.”
Dauz and her family reportedly said after Chavez’s sentencing that they were satisfied with the outcome.
“Judge Newberry gave the victim’s family the justice they deserve,” Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Chad Lexis told the Review-Journal.
