A Lexington County resident has been sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole after a 2023 DUI that resulted in the death of an 8-week-old infant.

66-year-old Charles Wesley Varn pleaded guilty to the charge. On Aug. 13, 2023, Varn was driving a 2017 Toyota Tacoma when he slammed into the back of a 2007 Saturn Vue, causing it to overturn, according to the press release.

Eight-week-old Gabriel Arroyo was in an infant seat when he passed away. Varn denied drinking at first but then later admitted to it after troopers who responded to the collision determined that he was under the influence at the time of the accident.

The SLED forensic lab later analyzed a sample of Varn’s blood where they found prescription drugs in his system. His blood alcohol level was 0.194, well over the limit of 0.08 that qualifies for impairment in South Carolina. Those investigating the incident determined that Varn was traveling at approximately 100 miles per hour at the time of the collision.

Varn has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1978, according to a release. He has previously been convicted on charges of assaulting a police officer, pointing and presenting a firearm, and arson. He has also had six previous DUI charges in 1986, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2002 and 2022.

He has been taken to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.