https://ift.tt/2rvPLu7, lawmakers and other supporters of a trucker sentenced to 110 years in prison after an explosive brake-failure accident that left four people dead rallied in Denver Wednesday to plead for clemency.
Supporters of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos say the sentence is deeply unjust. Truck drivers around the country have taken up his cause, using hashtags such as #NoTrucksToColorado and #NoTrucksColorado.
Speaking at the rally at the Colorado Capitol, Leonard Martinez, one of the lawyers representing Aguilera-Mederos, said the injustice of such long sentences needs to be addressed, not only by reforming sentencing laws but also by looking at the actions of prosecutors and judges.
“This fight is not just for him but for all,” he said.
The Colorado judge has said mandatory minimum sentencing laws forced him to impose the long prison term after Aguilera-Mederos was convicted of vehicular homicide and other charges.
Aguilera-Mederos’ family said in a statement that they do not want to minimize the loss of those killed in the crash but are calling on Colorado Governor Jared Polis to “take immediate action” to reduce the sentence for the 26-year-old man with no criminal record. He was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and fully cooperated with investigators, supporters said in a statement. More than 4.5 million people have signed an online petition asking for a commutation.
Polis, a Democrat, said Tuesday he was reviewing a clemency application.
Prosecutors asked for a reconsideration of the sentence after the outcry, but they also said that the driver declined plea deal negotiations and that the convictions recognize harm caused to crash victims. On Tuesday, District Attorney Alexis King filed a motion asking the judge to consider the issue quickly.