A judge will reconsider a trucker's 110-year sentence following a public outcry

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/27/1068383012/trucker-110-years-sentence-reconsidered-colorado

GOLDEN, Colo. — A truck driver sentenced to 110 years for an explosive crash that killed four people in suburban Denver moved a step closer Monday to potentially having his prison term reduced.

Judge Bruce Jones scheduled a hearing for Jan. 13 to reconsider Rogel Aguilera-Mederos' sentence following widespread outrage over the severity of his punishment and an unusual request by prosecutors to revisit the matter.

During a virtual hearing to discuss the request, one of Aguilera-Mederos' lawyers, James Colgan, said the defense needed some time to do research to see if there were any similar cases that could help guide its approach.

Jones said he wanted to learn more about whether the law that allowed him to reconsider the sentence gave him discretion to set whatever sentence he wanted.

No word on whether the company that employed him, which had multiple maintenance and safety complaints, will be sentenced at all.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

1. No criminal charges against the driver's company?

So the only recourse for the victims are civil lawsuits?

BTW a 110 year sentence is ridiculous

[ProfessorGAC]

2. I Hope The Civil Case Breaks Them

Then a reputable company can buy them for 20¢ on the dollar.
But, if there is a trail of maintenance neglect I don't know how they avoid criminal charges.
Happens with environmental & safety incidents all the time.
I personally know a person convicted of a felony for willful violations of environmental & waste laws.
He didn't do jail time, but he'll be working until he's 80 to pay off the loans to cover his fine.

[niyad]

15. CO has mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

[msongs]

3. meanwhile the company responsiible for truck brakes hardly get a mention nt

[questionseverything]

5. On the news last night they reported he was going 85 mph

Funny how that detail is left out of most reports

Brakes aren’t designed to stop a semi going that fast

His sentence is excessive but he was far from innocent in those deaths

[msongs]

6. maybe going that fast cuz brakes failed at lower speed nt

[questionseverything]

7. If the brakes failed at 45 mph ( the speed limit) he could of geared down

I had seen half a dozen articles here at du about this but not one told about his dangerous driving

[msongs]

8. and he bypassed several truck runaway ramps nt

[questionseverything]

14. Yup and the prosecutor brought up other dangerous driving

Witnessed by others

Sad deal all around

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. He tried while also trying to navigate crowded mountain grade.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. Because his brakes didn't work.

[questionseverything]

12. If he had discovered brake trouble at 45 mph he could of geared down and taken the ditch

Are you saying he was going down a steep grade?

That’s not what I thought i saw but if you show me different i have an open mind

I grew up driving junk trucks so i am familiar with the problem

[questionseverything]

13. I read the Denver post article with in the npr article

Pretty obvious he had no clue what he was doing. He testified that his breaks were working when he passed the first two safety exit signs then didn’t see the next two…. His speed didn’t accelerate that fast

He lied to get a job he couldn’t handle and the trucking company didn’t properly vet him

He closed his eyes and hugged the wheel…that’s the defense he gave

He had stopped, checked his brakes and them continued

I think 110 years is too much but he is far from innocent

[niyad]

16. CO has mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

[Demovictory9]

4. K&r

[BlackSkimmer]

9. There are reports that he lied about his experience.

But again, that should put the company at fault also.

[niyad]

17. One report that I read said that he had refused a plea deal. That he would only

crept getting only a traffic citation.