If there is one group that you can credit with making Disney theme parks truly magical places, it is the cast members who work day in and day out to make every guest’s vacation memorable. Disney cast members help create memories, keep the parks clean, cook the mouthwatering meals we enjoy, and so much more. Disney would not be Disney without the cast members, and the cast members work so closely that they become almost like a special family.
When a member of the Disney family passes away, it affects the person’s family and the Disney community as a whole. And that community was rocked nearly three years ago when a young parade performer was killed alongside her father.
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On November 13, 2022, 19-year-old Hannah Jacks and her father, Corporal Daniel Jacks Jr. — a Riverside County Correctional officer — were killed when they were hit by a drunk driver in Moreno Valley, about an hour from Anaheim. According to police reports, Scott Bales crossed the center line and crashed headfirst into the Jacks’ car. Hannah and her father were killed instantly.
Mr. Bales was injured in the crash and taken to the hospital, and it was reported that he had a blood alcohol level of .102, which is well above California’s .08 limit.
Hannah was a familiar and beloved presence at the Disneyland Resort, where she brought holiday magic to life as one of the talented dancers in the iconic Christmas Fantasy Parade. Beyond the park, she also made a lasting impact as a cherished dance instructor at The Dancer’s Studio in Hemet, California.
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It’s been nearly three years since the Jacks family lost Hannah and her father, and they are now finally seeing some justice served.
According to a report from ABC7, Scott Bales, who was 47 at the time of the accident, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing great bodily injury. And he has now learned that he will spend nearly the rest of his life in prison.
A superior court judge sentenced Bales to two 15-year prison terms to be served consecutively. Sentences for the other counts will be served concurrently, so Bales will serve 30 years in state prison. He will be eligible for parole.
During the sentencing, it was revealed that this was Bales’ fifth conviction for driving under the influence.
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The death of Hannah and her father devastated the family, leaving her mother, Denay, a single mom raising Hannah’s brother, Brent, all by herself.
Before Bales was sentenced, friends of the Jacks and members of the Jacks family were given the chance to read victim impact statements. During her statement, Mrs. Jacks sadly stated that she did not think Mr. Bales felt sorry for what he did.
“It was very hard to look at (Bales). I don’t believe he shows remorse. He turned around at the end and said he was sorry, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Denay said. “We needed the finality of him being put away, not on the streets where he could do this to someone else. Because it was his fifth time, so it’s not an accident; his fifth time being caught with a DUI, and I was ready for it all to be done.”
Scott Bales will serve his sentences consecutively, meaning that once he serves 15 years for killing Daniel Jacks, he will remain in jail and begin serving his 15-year sentence for killing Hannah. Reports did not indicate when Mr. Bales would be eligible for parole.
We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Hannah and Daniel. While their hearts may never fully heal, we hope that this ruling brings some closure to this difficult and devastating chapter.
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