BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — A former Colorado police officer has been sentenced to 14 months in jail on third-degree assault and four years probation on a more-serious criminally negligent homicide conviction in the death of Elijah McClain. Despite protests from McClain’s mother that justice was not served, Seventeenth Judicial District Judge Mark Warner insisted that he carefully weighed all evidence, including mitigating circumstances, before handing down the sentence on Friday.
Judge Warner, a veteran judge who studied political science at Iowa State University and received his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law, noted the sadness that will follow those involved in the trials. He described McClain as a “quirky, interesting, peaceful and hardworking man” and lamented the tragic nature of the case during the sentencing.
The trials of the former Aurora police officers and paramedics received an enormous amount of media attention, both in Colorado and nationwide. The judge sought to protect the juries from the onslaught of publicity by sealing the list of jurors, which he plans to lift later this month.
Roedema was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault in McClain’s death, but the jury acquitted another officer of all charges. Similarly, Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics were convicted of criminally negligent homicide. The case involved the death of McClain, who was stopped by police as he walked home from a convenience store in August 2019, and was later tackled and injected with a powerful sedative.
During the sentencing, Judge Warner offered insights into his thinking and approach, reminding the attendees that criminally negligent homicide is not considered a violent crime under Colorado law. He highlighted the requirements of the statutes and emphasized the mitigating circumstances that led to the sentence given to Roedema.
In conclusion, the judge’s clear and deliberate approach to the case led to the carefully weighed sentencing of the former officer, taking into account both the evidence presented and the statutory requirements. The case of Elijah McClain has sparked nationwide attention and debate on the use of force by law enforcement, and the sentencing has prompted further discussions on the criminal justice system’s handling of similar cases.