Son Of Jail Suicide Victim Awarded $8,034

The son of a man who committed suicide in the municipal jail 4-1/2 years ago has been awarded $8,034 in damages by a King County Superior Court jury.

The panel decided Thursday that total damages in the death of Adelino Chavez, 36, were $26,000 but reduced the award to his son, Jon Hunton, by holding that the inmate was 60.1 percent responsible.

Chavez, arrested in a theft investigation, hanged himself Dec. 22, 1992, in a holding cell, becoming the first inmate to kill himself in the lockup in this south Seattle suburb.

Testimony showed he was supposed to be checked every 30 minutes but was left alone for three hours.