It remains to be seen what will happen in the case of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, but the national attention given over his 110 year sentence isn’t dying away. There are petitions, tweets, Facebook posts, Tik Tok videos and more doing all they can to keep the attention on Colorado’s legal system in an effort to reduce if not commute the young man’s sentencing altogether.
Even celebrities are beginning to take notice and whether we like it or not, that’s bound to heat things up for better or for worse. Despite the fact that our legal system really shouldn’t rely on the opinion of celebrities, sometimes it can help a cause to get the word spread and that at least, they can be good for.
Creating this kind of attention provides the public an opportunity to discuss what’s happening. Discussions can lead to actions, and actions of course, can lead to laws changing or being reformed. While many agree that some prison time should be served in this particular case, the discussion of how much time is happening and it’s gotten the attention of people who can strive to make those changes.
The New York Post reported today, December 22nd, 2021 that First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King has filed a motion for the court to set a hearing to reconsider the sentence, her office said Tuesday.
“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,” the motion states. “This would allow for the conditions to be met for a modification of the defendant’s sentence as was discussed by the People in the initial sentencing hearing.
“The purpose for the People’s expedited request is so that the named victims in the case, as well as their families, have an opportunity to be heard by the trial court who is fully aware of the facts of the case,” the motion continues.
But people should remember that it’s not just Aguilera-Mederos that’s life has been changed. There are victims and family of victims that get to have some say. And they should. Because of this, the prosecution has gone to those that survived their injuries and the family of those that died to get their thoughts and feelings on what’s happening right now.
Also, just to clear up something because social media has seen a lot of hate for the judge who imposed the original sentence; the law required that the years sentenced be served consecutively and not concurrently. District Court Judge Bruce Jones basically stated that he would have given a much lesser sentence had he been given the option.
The New York Post continued:
Mandatory minimum sentencing laws require that sentences on 27 counts of vehicular assault, assault, reckless driving and other charges run consecutively.
“I will state that if I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence,” Jones said.
After the sentencing, King said she would welcome a reconsideration of the punishment.
But the prosecutor also told the Denver Post that Aguilera-Mederos didn’t accept efforts to negotiate a plea deal, and that the convictions recognized the harm caused to the victims.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos has directed his lawyers to pursue an outright appeal of the conviction of 42 different charges. While they appreciate the attention coming their way, they will look at lesser sentencing if the appeals don’t go their way. Based on their efforts it’s clear that it’s more important to the young man to get his name fully cleared of the charges in order to take care of his family.
Commuting a sentence or lessening the length of the sentence doesn’t remove any one of those 42 charges from his record. A record which could prevent him from working a large number of jobs.
Yet, there are still those victims and their families to consider. One of the deceased’s brothers stated that they wanted the driver to serve at least 20 years for taking his loved one away.
This story syndicated with permission from The Liberty Leader