James Colgan, Aguilera-Mederos’s defense attorney, stated yesterday that the moves by King and the District Attorney office are about “political survival,” adding that “They’re feeling a lot of heat and they want their foot off the fire as quickly as possible.”Ĭolgan said Aguilera-Mederos submitted a petition for clemency to Polis’s office on Monday, stating they do not trust the DA’s office to “come up with any kind of fair number.” King requested for a court hearing with District Court Judge Bruce Jones, who can reconsider the mandatory minimum sentence for Aguilera-Mederos due to “unusual and extenuating circumstances.” This is a testament to the strength of the protests, and the DA’s office was clearly given orders from above to respond. On Tuesday the Denver Post reported that First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King had “quietly moved to reduce the 110-year sentence” on Friday by starting the process to potentially reduce the sentence. Polis relayed what was his second message on the subject in less than a week, with a spokesperson from his office noting that he will “welcome an application” for clemency from the defense and would “expedite” its consideration. State Senator Julie Gonzales noted on social media that sentencing has come up in conversations with lawmakers and Colorado Democratic Governor Jared Polis in recent days. While the entire book was thrown at Aguilera-Medero, workers on social media have noted the vast difference in attitude taken by the same prosecutors when defending the police, noting that the gifter of the brake trophy Moritzky sought only a misdemeanor plea deal consisting of 90 days jail and four years probation when Officer Curtis Lee Arganbright was charged with brutally raping an intoxicated arrestee in the back seat of his police car in 2017.Īnger and outrage have been so widespread that numerous state officials have been forced to speak on the case. The anger toward the excessive sentencing has called into question before many the entire framework of punitive mandatory minimum sentencing.Īdding insult to injury, it has been revealed that the prosecutor for the case, Kayla Wildeman, celebrated the harsh verdict, posting on social media that she was given a trophy of a semi truck brake shoe by Chief Deputy District Attorney Trevor Moritzky for attaining the 110 year sentence, calling it a “special gift.” The grotesque celebration of the excessive sentencing points to the brutality of the criminal justice system and the power of prosecutors in determining the extent of charges. With over 4.6 million signatures at the time of this writing, the petition calling for commutation as time served or for the granting of clemency for Aguilera-Medero has become the fastest growing campaign of the year on the petition site, and is the third-most signed petition in 2021.Īguilera-Mederos was found guilty on 27 counts and was sentenced to the minimum of 110 years under a Colorado law which says that so-called “crimes of violence” must run consecutively rather than concurrently when pertaining to a single incident. The mainstream media will not give its undivided attention because they know we could bring the Govt to its knees if we just stand together for a cause.” people get less time for premeditated murder.” Another wrote “Truckers stand together and stand strong, we are a force to be reckoned with. ![]() ![]() One trucker wrote “Cross that state off my list to haul freight. Videos associated with the hashtag # NoTrucksToColorado have been viewed 11.4 million times, with thousands of comments of support pouring in from workers. ![]() While the size of the protest by drivers is unclear, hundreds and likely thousands of truck drivers have united in an organized boycott, refusing to deliver goods and drive into Colorado, posting videos on social media and sharing widely the # notruckscolorado hashtag and declaring their dedication to the justice for the driver, who was 23 years old at the time of the accident, caused when his brakes failed.Īguilera-Mederos’s emotional plea to the judge where he sobbed and begged for forgiveness has been met with a powerful determination by truck drivers and millions of workers who have come to his defense. Within one week of the cruel 110-year prison sentencing of 26-year-old truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos for a crash which killed four, the Colorado state government has been forced to backtrack in the face of powerful protests and a boycott of the state by truck drivers, supported by a mass online petition.
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