The prosecutor in the case of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, who was involved in a truck crash that killed four people in 2019, has asked for a reduction in his sentence from 110 years to between 20 and 30 years.
Aguilera-Mederos’ representatives will make their request at a hearing tomorrow (27 December) after filing the motion to reconsider the original sentence handed down to the 26-year-old.
Colorado’s First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King released a statement that read: “Based on the facts of this case and input from the victims and their families, my office will be asking the court to consider a sentencing range of 20-30 years when the Court is prepared to address resentencing,
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“As the jury found, Mr. Aguilera-Mederos knowingly made multiple active choices that resulted in the death of four people, serious injuries to others, and mass destruction. This sentencing range reflects an appropriate outcome for that conduct, which was not an accident.
“Given that the victims in this case have more than one view of an appropriate outcome, and this trial court heard the evidence presented, we believe that this hearing is the best path to securing justice for everyone involved.”
Aguilera-Mederos was 23 years old when he crashed the 18-wheeler truck that he was driving as part of his work for a Texan trucking company into a number of cars in Lakewood, Colorado.
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His case stated that the brakes of the truck failed as he was coming downhill on Interstate 70.
The truck caused a 28-vehicle crash, during which a fuel tank caught fire and caused a devastating fiery explosion.
When it was over, 61-year-old Doyle Harrison, 67-year-old William Bailey, 24-year-old Miguel Angel Lamas Arrellano, and 69-year-old Stanley Politano were dead.
In October, Aguilera-Mederos was found guilty of 27 charges in total, ranging from vehicular homicide to first degree assault, as well as reckless driving and careless driving causing death.
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When he was sentenced to 110 years on 13 December, he gave an emotional speech in which he claimed that he would prefer to swap places with the victims.
Judge A Bruce Jones, sentencing, said that while he didn’t want to make Aguilera-Mederos serve the sentences consecutively, he was bound by Colorado state law, and gave the minimum sentence for the 27 counts.
There was a huge backlash from truckers, jurors, and even Kim Kardashian, who pleaded on his behalf for the sentence to be shortened or commuted.
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That call was later echoed by the prosecutor’s office.
They filed a motion that reads: “As Colorado law required the imposition of the sentence in this case, the law also permits the Court to reconsider its sentence in an exceptional case involving unusual and extenuating circumstances,
“Now that the Defendant has been sentenced, the People again request the Court set a hearing as soon as practicable upon the receipt of the report.”
The case has drawn particular attention because of the claims of one juror who said he ‘cried my eyes out’ about the decision they had to make.
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The Governor of Colorado has also confirmed that they have received a request for clemency after millions signed a petition asking for Aguilera-Mederos to be shown leniency and have his sentence commuted to time-served.
Truckers have also threatened to boycott driving through the state.
Kim Kardashian posted several Instagram stories about the case.
She wrote: “He was not drunk or under the influence; his brakes on the tractor-trailer failed,
“Another shocking and unfair part of this case is that the judge didn’t want to sentence him to such a lengthy sentence.
“However, because of the mandatory minimums in Colorado, his hands were tied. Mandatory minimums take away judicial discretion and need to end.”
The families of the victims will also be consulted on the matter.
DA King wrote: “Consistent with the People and the Court’s obligation under the Victim Rights Amendment, the People have begun conferring with the victims in this case to obtain and consider their input in advance of the Court’s hearing and notify them of the date determined by the Court,
“The People intend to file supplemental information prior to the hearing.”
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