Connect with us

News

Truck Driver “Rogel Aguilera-Mederos” Sentence Reduced By Colorado Governor

Published

on

Truck driver’s sentence reduced: Rogel Aguilera-Mederos’ sentence was mitigated by Governor Jared Polis, who called the 2019 tragedy a “tragic but unintended act.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis shortened the sentence of a truck driver who was sentenced to 110 years in prison following a tragic accident in 2019 to 10 years on Thursday.

Truck driver’s sentence reduced from 110 years to 10 by Colorado governor

On April 25, 2019, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, killed four people after his brakes failed on a downward grade on Interstate 70 eastbound west of Denver, according to him. Prosecutors said that before the crash, Aguilera-Mederos acted irresponsibly and made a series of poor mistakes.

In a letter dated Thursday, Polis reduced Aguilera-Mederos’ sentence by 100 years, noting that a life sentence was unsuitable for a “tragic but unintended conduct.”

Truck driver’s sentence reduced

“While you are not blameless,” Polis said in a letter to Aguilera-Mederos, “your sentence is excessive when compared to many other inmates in our criminal justice system who committed intentional, premeditated, or violent offences.”

Video credit: nbcnews.com

A relative of Aguilera-Mederos’ attorney works in the governor’s office, according to Polis, although the relative was not involved in the decision-making process.

What happened Rogel Aguilera-Mederos?

The case, according to Polis, “highlights the absence of consistency between sentences.”

Polis wrote, “This was a devastating occurrence that affected many Coloradans.” “Though your acts have caused great suffering, I am heartened by your personal introspection and the commercial vehicle safety reforms made in the aftermath of this catastrophe to ensure that this type of tragedy does not occur again.”

Truck driver’s sentence reduced by governer of colorado

Officials say Aguilera-Mederos was driving a truck with a trailer hauling timber at an estimated 85 mph in an area where the commercial vehicle speed limit is 45 mph. 28 automobiles were involved in a chain reaction crash that resulted in a fire.

The collision killed Doyle Harrison, 61, William Bailey, 67, Stanley Politano, 69, and Miguel Lamas Arrellano, 24.

Prosecutors had previously set a resentencing hearing for Jan. 13 in the hopes of reducing Aguilera-Mederos’ prison time.

What happened with the truck driver that got 110 years?

According to First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King, the case was “extraordinary” and required “an unusual process.” Instead, her team hoped to resentence him to 20 to 30 years in prison.

“We have taken and will continue to take the required efforts to ensure that the court — which is the most knowledgeable about what happened in this case — strikes the proper balance when considering a new sentence,” King said.

Judge A. Bruce Jones stated at the initial sentencing that the law forced him to sentence Aguilera-Mederos to consecutive sentences, meaning they would be served consecutively.

“I wouldn’t run those sentences consecutively if I had the discretion, if I thought I had the discretion,” Jones added.

The public outcry over the century-plus sentence resulted in a commutation petition with more than 5 million signatures.

Also Read: