Truck Driver Jail Sentence Reduced, CO fighting governor, Lawyer Neama Rahmani Predicted

Back in 2019, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos crashed a truck, resulting in the deaths of four people in Colorado. In 2021, he was sentenced to 110 years in prison for 27 charges. This is due to Colorado conviction laws, though millions across America petitioned for a sentence that’s more reflective of the incident that occurred.

These four were:

• Stanley Politano, 69

• William “Bill” Bailey, 67

• Doyle Harrison, 61

• Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 24

That’s including many truck drivers and Americans who decided to boycott the state, as noted by BBC. 

Now, the governor of Colorado has reduced the 110 year sentence to just 10 years through commuting, and many are frustrated with his decision. Approximately a month ago, personal injury attorney Neama Rahmani put up a video on YouTube describing how the sentence might be reduced for Aguilera-Mederos.

Authorities have since clarified that the sentencing was 110 years at the mandatory minimum that had been set by Colorado state law, though a prosecutor had already motioned for sentence reconsideration. 

Rahmani noted that the prosecutors would be able to get the sentence down to the 20 or 30 years they were most recently recommending “if they dismiss 3 of the 4 murder counts.” 

He also noted that the governor would be able to reduce all or part of Aguilera-Mederos’ sentence, as well as the possibility that Colorado state legislature might be able to change the consecutive sentences laws and make it act retroactively.

Now, Colorado Governor Jared Polis is facing criticism for stepping into the commute and possibly setting a “troubling precedent” in Colorado law, according to The Independent. People are especially upset because this was done before the judge was able to issue a ruling.

Jefferson County District Attorney Alexis King would have recommended a 20 to 30 year sentence, and a number of government officials have backed up this recommendation in retrospect of Polis’ actions.

Boulder and Mesa County District Attorneys Michael Dougherty and Daniel Rubenstein wrote a letter to Polis, expressing their concerns. “That sentence is far too low for someone who kills four people in the appallingly reckless way in which Mr. Aguilera-Mederos chose to do so,” they explained.

“As we look to the future, though, our greatest concern is that you chose to intervene in a pending case, thereby undermining the integrity and confidence that Coloradans place in the justice system.”

While some were in support of the truck driver receiving a full pardon, the governor did not feel that this was just after considering the case details. When the driver’s breaks failed, the truck barrelled into dozens of vehicles and killed four people. 

Additionally, it’s been revealed that Aguilera-Mederos manipulated his driving records, that he noted the brakes were malfunctioning and drove the truck anyway, and that safety monitors in the truck were disabled.

According to an article by ABC7, Polis has announced that Aguilera-Mederos will be eligible for parole starting December 30 in 2026, in 5 years.

Though, as stated in Fox News, family members think this is wrong. Duane Bailey, the brother of Bill Bailey who died in the accident, is furious with the governor. “You also have to realize [Aguilera-Mederos] will not spend the entire 10 years the governor put his sentence at. He could get out in as little as 5 years,” Bailey explains. “Would your brother’s life be adequately compensated if he spent 1 1/4 years per death in prison?”

However, as reported by CBS News, Polis is still hopeful that this case will bring more attention to issues with Colorado’s state sentencing laws.

In the previously mentioned petition, there is a statement that claims, “Rogel has said several times that he wishes he had the courage to crash and take his own life that day, this tragic accident wasn’t done with Intent, it wasn’t a criminal act, it was an accident.”