Saugus Lawyer Sentenced to Work Crew for Freeway Chase

An attorney has been sentenced to 30 days on a Caltrans work crew for leading police on a high-speed freeway chase last year as his infant daughter sat in the back seat, officials said.

Kevin Wayne Yeam, 37, of Saugus, was sentenced Wednesday by San Fernando Municipal Judge John C. Gunn, who also placed the lawyer on two years’ probation.

A jury found Yeam guilty of reckless driving and resisting arrest after a 10-day trial.

Yeam’s trouble began on July 17, when an LAPD officer saw Yeam weaving through traffic as he drove north on the Foothill Freeway in San Fernando, said Deputy City Atty. Michael Pizzuti, who handled the case.

Yeam approached Officer Jacqueline Beatty’s vehicle from the rear and passed it at an estimated 90 mph, Pizzuti said. As Yeam drove by, the officer spotted the infant strapped in a child seat in the rear of the car.

The officer honked at and motioned for Yeam to slow down, but he continued to drive at an estimated 80 mph, Pizzuti said.

Beatty then accelerated, pulled in front of Yeam and braked in an effort to get him to slow down, but he passed the police car and accelerated again to 90 mph, Pizzuti said.

Yeam continued on the Foothill, Golden State and eventually the Antelope Valley freeways, Pizzuti said, and attempted to elude the officer by veering sharply off the freeway onto San Fernando Road, Pizzuti said.

As Yeam approached Sierra Highway, a former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, who had witnessed the chase while driving on the Antelope Valley Freeway, pulled in front of Yeam and blocked the street, Pizzuti said.

Yeam refused to leave his car and resisted when Beatty reached inside to remove the keys from the ignition, Pizzuti said. Yeam was arrested by backup officers and taken to the LAPD’s Foothill Station.