DENVER – The relatives, legislators and other supporters of a truck driver sentenced to 110 years in prison after a deadly four-car crash rallied in Denver on Wednesday to plead for help. humaneness.
Supporters of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos say the sentence is extremely unfair and vans Motorists around the country have supported his cause, using hashtags like #NoTrucksToColorado and #NoTrucksColorado.
Speaking at a rally in the state Capitol, Leonard Martinez, one of the attorneys representing Aguilera-Mederos, said the injustice of such lengthy sentences needs to be addressed by reforming the proclamation law. but also examines the actions of prosecutors and judges.
“This fight is not just for him but for all,” he said.
The Colorado judge said the minimum sentencing law required him to apply a long prison term after Aguilera-Mederos was found guilty of vehicle murder and other charges.
His family said in a statement they did not want to minimize the loss of those killed in the crash, but were calling on Governor Jared Polis to “take immediate action” to reduce the man’s sentence. 26 years old with no crime. record. He is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and fully cooperates with investigators, advocates said in a statement. More than 4.7 million people have signed an online petition asking for relief.
Polis, a Democrat, said on Tuesday he was reviewing the clemency application.
Prosecutors have asked for a review of the sentence after outcry. But they also note that the driver has declined plea agreement negotiations and said the sentence recognizes harm caused to crash victims.
A hearing has been scheduled to discuss the reconsideration request on Monday.
In a statement Wednesday, District Attorney Alexis King said victims and their families want to be heard when sentencing requests are reviewed.
“Our primary concern is to ensure that they are able to share with the court how this has impacted their lives as the court considers the appropriate sentencing and follows the prescribed process. enshrined in the law,” said King, who asked for patience from seekers. an immediate solution.
The attorney for the Aguilera-Mederos trial, James Colgan, said on Wednesday that King, who inherited the case from her predecessor, could have dropped some of the charges against him if she wanted to be achieved. another sentence, according to state law.
Colgan said he’s willing to let the governor or judge decide on a new, fair sentence. He declined to say what that could be.
When tragedy strikes on both sides, there must be a happy medium, because ruining someone’s life won’t make the lives of the victims better, Colgan said.
Aguilera-Mederos testified that he was transporting wood when the brakes on his semicircle failed as he was descending the slope of Interstate 70 at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in the spring of 2019. His truck plowed into slowing vehicles because of another wreck outside Denver, creating a chain reaction wreck and a fireball consuming the vehicles and melted parts of the highway.
He wept as he apologized to the victims’ families during his sentencing on December 13.
“I am not a murderer. I am not a killer. When I look at my charges, we’re talking about a killer, it’s not me,” he said. “I’ve never thought about hurting anyone in all my life.”
Prosecutors argued that he should have used a ramp designed for such situations. For his part, Aguilera-Mederos said he struggled to avoid traffic and tried to change direction to slow down.
District Court Judge Bruce Jones said at sentencing that the mandatory minimum sentencing law requires consecutive sentences for 27 counts of vehicle assault, assault, reckless driving and other counts . “I will declare that if I had the power to decide, it would not be my sentence,” the judge said.
The collision killed 24-year-old Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 67-year-old William Bailey, 61-year-old Doyle Harrison and 69-year-old Stanley Politano. Relatives of the victims supported at least some jail time at his sentencing hearing.
Bailey’s wife, Gage Evans, told The New York Times Drivers’ sentences should not be reduced but instead lawmakers say sentencing laws should be reviewed.
“This person should stay in prison for a while and reflect on his actions,” Evans said, adding that she and other victims’ relatives oppose a “public narrative” that Aguilera-Mederos is victim. “We really are the victims,” she said.
