The governor of the state of Colorado, Jared Polis, has commuted the 110-year prison sentence of a Cuban truck driver who was convicted of a fatal accident that left four people dead and will now have to serve only ten.
“The sentence of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos is reduced to ten years,” the Polis office has indicated in a statement, in which it has detailed that the governor has recently learned that a relative of Aguilera-Mederos’ lawyer works in his office.
However, he has specified that “this person has had absolutely no involvement in the commutation process and works in a capacity unrelated to this matter, and was not aware of the governor’s decision in advance.”
Aguilera-Mederos was driving a semi-trailer at more than 80 miles per hour in April 2019 when the brakes failed, he told investigators. He tried to pull over to the shoulder to avoid stopping traffic, but another semitrailer was already stopped there, he recounted in his affidavit. The accident caused the collision of 28 cars and left four dead. The man was convicted in October and convicted of murder and 23 other charges.
James Colgan, one of Aguilera-Mederos’ attorneys, told CNN television that he is “surprised” by the commutation of the sentence, but has indicated that it is “good news.”
“Obviously, I think that was the maximum sentence he should have received, ten years,” he indicated, noting that Polis’ decision is a “much fairer reflection” of what happened. Likewise, he has assured that his client is, “of course, extraordinarily grateful.”
